Realign, Reassess, and Go After Your Goals After Times of Overwhelm

Overwhelm happens. Whether due to personal, professional, or global events, overwhelm can make small tasks feel enormous. Once you get through the worst, however, you’ll want to get back to what’s most important to you: your personal or professional goals.

Let’s explore how to realign, reassess, and get back on track with your goals after periods of overwhelm.

Understanding Overwhelm

Before diving into goal-setting, it's important to understand that overwhelm is a natural response to feeling out of control or unable to cope with multiple stressors at once. It's often characterized by fatigue, anxiety, and an inability to make decisions. Recognizing these signs early can help you manage overwhelm before it takes over. (And if you’re in the midst of serious overwhelm, check out this resource.)

Step 1: Realign With Your Values

The first step in navigating out of overwhelm is to realign with your core values. What truly matters to you? Often, overwhelm is compounded by spending our energy on tasks that don’t align with our deeper values, leading to dissatisfaction and burnout. Take a moment to write down your top five values and consider how your current priorities align with them. This exercise isn't just reflective; it's a foundational step in ensuring that your goals resonate with what truly enriches your life. Don’t know where to start? Begin with Brenè Brown’s list of values from the Dare to Lead program.

Step 2: Reassess Your Goals

Once you've realigned with your values, it's time to reassess your goals. Ask yourself:

• Are my current goals still relevant? Sometimes, goals need to be adjusted because circumstances have changed.
• Are my goals specific and attainable? Vague goals contribute to overwhelm because they lack a clear path to achievement.
• Do my goals reflect my values? If they don’t, it might be time to set new goals that do.

Working with a coach to break down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks can manage current overwhelm or prevent it in the future. Creating milestones and smaller tasks will make your goals feel more achievable. Not to mention achieving smaller milestones along the way will give you reason to celebrate, and create forward momentum.

Step 3: Prioritize and Plan

Now that you have reassessed your goals, prioritize them based on urgency and importance. Maybe you’ve organized your wardrobe or house by using different bags or buckets. Think of prioritization the same way, categorizing them according to:

• Do first 
• Schedule 
• Delegate 
• Don't do

This prioritization will help you see where you need to focus your energy. Spend time on tasks that truly help you get closer to your goals.

Step 4: Keep Future Overwhelm at Bay

Explore the following strategies to prevent overwhelm from taking over again:

• Time blocking: Reserve specific blocks of time in your calendar for different tasks, including breaks and leisure time.
• Mindfulness and meditation: Regular practice can significantly reduce stress and enhance focus.
• Regular reviews: Weekly check-ins on your progress can help you adjust your plans, celebrate successes, and stay engaged.

For company leaders, too, you can consider building “rest and recovery” into the work week, by incorporating blocks of time or days where meetings are off the table. Check out this video from the CEO at Exos about “You do you Fridays”.

Step 5: Go After Your Goals

Now that you have a clear understanding of your values and solid plan, it’s go time! But don’t be too strict. Stay flexible and adapt as you learn what works best for you. Stay consistent and remember your purpose.

Conclusion

Overwhelm can feel like a storm, disorienting and chaotic. But with the right tools and a thoughtful approach, it’s possible to come out on the other side stronger and more focused. Realign with your values, reassess your goals, and confidently move forward. Remember, every step you take is a step towards a more controlled and fulfilling life.

Let us know your thoughts! Get in touch with our team or schedule a discovery call.