As entrepreneurs overwhelm can suck the life out of you. We’ve all been there. We have a to-do list a mile long. We’re getting pulled in every direction. We have new programs we want to create. We need to set up processes for our business. We have – and the list goes on and on. Overwhelm can be hard to get out of.

Overwhelm stops us in our tracks. I know for me when I’m overwhelmed, nothing gets done. I’m overcome by confusion, where to start, what to even do to start. It’s exhausting.

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of interviewing Cat Stancik for an upcoming podcast where we talked about overwhelm and moving away from it. One of her first steps is to get clarity. Take some time to yourself and really get clear on where you want to go. This is great advice and a great first step!

Now, you may be thinking, “But I’ve got so much to do, how can I find the time to just sit quietly?” Trust me…do it. When you clear all the gobbly-gook going on in your head, things will get better.

Here are five more tips I have found helpful through the years:

• Not only getting clarity and clearing your mind, but also clearing your space. Do you have piles of paper on your desk? Do you have things laying around your office or house that are out of place? Put these things away and clear your space.
• Write it down. Make a list of everything in your head that you need to do – a brain dump. For me, as I’m writing down everything in my brain, I start to feel less overwhelmed. Then I take great joy in putting a checkmark beside it when the task is done!
• Talk to someone. This could be a trusted colleague or a coach. Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees and just by talking to someone else who is not so involved in our business, they have simple solutions.
• Delegate. Are you trying to do too much yourself? Is it time to hire a team to support you in your business efforts? You should be spending time doing only what you can do in your business and get support for all the other things. As you look at your to-do list, what can you delegate?
• Time block the tasks you have to do. Our brain can only make so many decisions a day. In your planner or on your calendar, block out in 30-minute increments what you’re going to do in that amount of time. If you get done sooner than expected, great! Now move on to the next item. If it takes you longer than expected, it’s okay. Maybe you’ll have some unexpected time later in the day or you can add it to tomorrow’s calendar.

Do you have any other tips you’d like to share on how you get out of overwhelm? Write them below! I’d love to hear them.