The Real Reason You Feel Overwhelmed

This is a guest post by Jim Woods. Jim is a status-quo defying writer and coach who helps others get unstuck so they can live a better story. You can connect with him on Twitter. His next ebook, with Erik Fisher,is now available. Hit The Mark will help you improve your focus, boost your energy, and make the most of your time.

A busy schedule can overwhelm you or even stop you from doing what you want to do.

You might want to write a book, pursue a new career, start a business, or make some other changes but your schedule screams, “No—you’re too busy!”

The truth is you have time—you just choose to spend your time in other areas.

Where are You Spending Your Time?

A full time job and being a parent can easily take 60 hours of time each week, but you still have some margin left over.

The following pie chart breaks down hours in the week and makes two assumptions:

Working 60 hours a week (red portion).
Sleeping 9 hours each night or 63 hours a week (green portion).

The chart doesn’t take into consideration time needed for your commute, eating or showering, but these can easily fit into the sleeping or working times. The blue portion reveals over 45 hours are available—over 26% of the week—to use however you’d like.

You Do Have Time

You really have time available—the underlying problem is a lack of energy.

How are you refilling your energy levels? Both mental and physical energy must be restored for you to be effective.

You can use your free time to replenish yourself or to drain yourself.

Draining activities:

Spending time online fixating on what others are doing and making yourself jealous, worried, or stressed.
Watching television when you are bored.
Worrying about things you can’t control.
Interacting with negative people.

Replenishing activities:

Going for a walk outside.
Playing with your kids.
Physical exercise.
Interacting with positive people.
Reading an uplifting book.

How you are spending your free time? Are you using it to drain or refill your energy levels? Very rarely does time spent on the couch, looking at a screen give you the energy you need.

When you boost your energy levels, you completely change your attitude and how you feel. In turn, you can reenergize your entire life.

Be Intentional With Your Time

If this sounds impossible, keep in mind there are some seasons in life which are more hectic than others. If you are the parent of a newborn, it likely is not time to write the great American novel in a month.

Doing one hour of work when you feel energetic is often better than five hours of work when you are exhausted. Gauge your energy and use it accordingly. Don’t take your energy for granted, instead be intentional with how you use it.

Thanks Jim! Great insights. To read more posts by Jim, catch his blog here.