People are caught in the overwhelm trap. Their daily lives are chaotic, worse than in a Mad Max film. The desire to quit is overwhelming, and the very concept of change makes them fearful. As a result, they remain unchanged, caught in a self-created circle. It feels like there is no way out of it, and life appears hopeless. They either try to explain their situation or use television or other means to numb the agony. I understand this life. I know most of us have been feeling overwhelmed for what seems like forever. However, a breakthrough concept saved me. Allow me to explain to you how you can escape the overwhelm trap.
We Choose the Wrong Goals
Most people have goals. We are busy making stuff, completing tasks, and responding to emails. However, our to-do lists frequently target the wrong targets.
Like when I read about a man on Twitter space last week, he was overwhelmed. He is going through a divorce with a five-year-old and only has time to focus on one goal. He decided to publish his novel on the Kindle.
He has no social media followers, no advertising budget, and no email list. When he was asked how he intended to market his book, he could not say much. He had no strategy other than hoping that people would buy it, and he was counting on Amazon to promote his murder thriller for free.
In short, he chose the wrong goal.
The question that changed my life is: am I working towards the right goal?
If your objective is financial independence and you intend to publish crime fiction without an audience or professional assistance, you are setting yourself up for failure. This is a waste of time.
This is how most people live, including my former self.
The Illusion of Busy-ness
Our jobs are another significant source of strain for us.
Every day, people struggle with the issue of “how many hours do we have to work?” Employees may be hesitant to work lengthy hours because employers have control over the number of hours they work.
When you start a new job, it appears manageable at first, and then you fail to achieve work-life balance. Your manager, however, has the ability to increase your working hours at any time. Most bosses will not say, “I need you to work 12 hours per day instead of 8.” Instead, they gradually assign you more duties, which require you to work longer hours.
They evaluate your performance based on whether you complete the task, not how long it takes. This means that any task can suddenly increase your workload, and you have no control over it.
Some might say, “You can quit and find another job.” Sure, but then you have a career gap, and the next employer wonders, “Why did you only last 3 months in your last job?”
Most people are afraid to quit. Changing jobs is a lot of work and involves many unknowns. It is easier to stay and hope things improve. However, the question is not when things will improve, but if they will improve, and you should make decisions accordingly.
Finding Your True Purpose
A wrong objective might be a major setback. A common mistake is to choose a goal based on trends or advice from a so-called expert. You should be more disciplined than that.
You have to dig deeper than you are comfortable with in order to set the right goal. If you merely guess and hope for the best, you will most likely end up with the wrong goal.
My approach begins with curiosity. What topics do I frequently look up online? What are my current habits? What do I enjoy talking about during conversations?
It is easy for me to choose the right way when my objectives and interests match. Initially, I believed I was fascinated by startup culture, so I surveyed entrepreneurs. However, something did not feel right.
I then shifted to writing about personal development, which seemed more natural. As time went on, I developed a fascination with writing and personal development.
When curiosity leads you to the correct objective, you are more likely to become deeply passionate about it.
The Power of One Goal
The first mistake is to focus on the wrong goal. However, trying to achieve multiple objectives at once makes matters worse. I have never seen that method work.
The top 1% do not strive to excel in everything because they understand that there are only 24 hours in a day. They concentrate on one goal. This option can make life appear unique.
The more I eliminate other plans and focus on only one, the more effective I become. There is no alternative to intense, passionate focus.
The same goes for you. If you feel overwhelmed, it means you have multiple aims, which will lead you to mediocrity. Pick one.
Overcoming Resistance to Change
People often feel offended when I try to tell them that their goal might not be the best fit. It seems easier for them to be angry with me than it does to accept responsibility and consider making a change.
Many people, particularly those in regular jobs, prefer to resist change and keep pursuing the wrong goals. Some may strongly disagree with me in the comments, claiming that having a job is necessary for living a happy life.
However, it is evident from the statistics that everyone eventually desires control and ownership of something; this is a basic aspect of what it means to be human. We cannot avoid this reality; it is a question of when, not if.
You may be angry with yourself for selecting the wrong goal, or you could be compassionate and acknowledge that we frequently begin with the wrong goals and work our way towards finding the right ones. Setting realistic goals basically requires careful consideration of options.
“Better to admit you walked through the wrong door than spend your life in the wrong room.”
Grant Cardone
Taking Action: Your First Steps
Productivity experts make goal-achieving more difficult. They suggest engaging in practices such as yoga, chanting, meditation, taking cold showers, and even giving in to distractions before using a Pomodoro timer app for time management to ultimately start working. This is not how I do things.
I just get up and go after my objective. No extras. I usually achieve more by working early in the morning than most people do in a full day. I can efficiently filter out distractions with the help of my focused attention.
Devotion with a clear focus has great strength.
“What is the single most important thing I can achieve today that would count as a success?” is the key question I ask myself every morning in an attempt to turn this concept into a daily ritual.
This question guides me through my entire day. My to-do list focuses on one primary task: attaining that goal. If I succeed in that, everything else falls into place.
You do not have to be defined by overburdening goals. Are you ready to escape the overwhelm trap to maintain focus and clarity? This is your time. Begin making progress today.
Sana Ahmed Khan is a life coach and author of multiple books from Islamabad, Pakistan. As a certified life coach and author, Sana is keen on helping women from all walks of life. Sana empowers you to overcome self-doubt, find balance, and become your best self through her guidance focused on mindful living, social skills, and personal development.
