Where To Start When You Don’t Know Where To Start

When you’re overwhelmed — whether it’s with a career change, everything you have to get done before a big trip, or simply the day ahead of you — it feels like it would be easier to just throw your hands up and say “screw it.”

Easier? Yes. Ideal? No.

No matter what your end goal is, here are a few helpful ways to get there and not feel so overwhelmed.

What do you have to do?

Defining what you have to do — let’s say in a single day — is the first way to start getting things done.

For example, maybe you have a few appointments or meetings. Ok, add that to the list…those are things you have to do in your day.

Or perhaps you’re looking to finish an overwhelming project, what has to happen in order to do it? Start outlining those steps first.

Awesome. You’re on your way to making things a little less overwhelming and a little more doable.

Get rid of distractions

In life, there’s going to be plenty to distract us from what we need to do.

Between television and the internet, technology certainly doesn’t help. If you’re really serious about starting something – a project, your day, accomplishing a goal – remove yourself from these distractions.

Stay away from Facebook, turn off the TV, stop checking your phone every two seconds; separate yourself from whatever seems to distract you…and what is actually doing more to overwhelm you.

Get inspired

Depending on what you’re trying to get accomplished, find your zen and go somewhere or do something that inspires you.

Often we forget that giving ourselves a burst of what makes us happy can do more than we think it can.

One step at a time

A laundry list of to-do items is going to overwhelm anyone.

Instead, make your goal manageable by doing one thing at a time. I like to mix it up: one thing I enjoy doing, one thing I’ve been putting off, one thing I enjoy, etc.

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Now take a deep breath…and go get ‘er done!