There are coping skills based on evidence that we can draw upon to turn the tide, help us overcome the overwhelm, and get us back on track. Here are some suggestions. 

Just Breathe

Breathing exercises are a powerful way to combat what is getting in your way of recovery. Different ways of breathing can provide us with the stress reduction we need to help our thinking simply by reoxygenating the blood. Not just for our bodies, breathing techniques and also for our brains. Fresh oxygen to the brain helps clear the cloudiness and provides what our brain needs most. Shortness of breath can be a major factor in contributing to the overwhelm that leads to the fear of the unknown. 

Get Social

Expanding our social connections with others is another way to deal with what is happening to our being that can plague our performance. I know for myself that when I feel this way, I tend not to be as social. I’ve learned to change that mindset and get out among people. You might very well come across someone else who’s having a difficult time. Just because you made the effort and found them, the connection could be just what you both needed to heal. The old saying, ‘misery loves company’ is not my favorite way to look at it and yet, there is comfort in the sentiment considering how much more effectively we deal with anxiety when we discover we are not the only one. 

Trust Yourself

Demonstrating self-compassion is another antidote to overcome the sometimes debilitating impact of facing change. In my February 2022 blog on Restorative Self-Care, I map out ways you can develop your practice of self-compassion. 

Write it Out

Journaling is yet another useful tool in getting back on track. I urge all of my clients at the start of every coaching engagement to start and maintain a leadership journal. It is a powerful way to gain insight and support from within, from which all our needs can be met with a little practice and discipline. 

One of the most helpful ways to journal is not by typing, but rather by picking up a pen and paper. A direct connection between the body and heart comes from the physical act of writing, for which a keyboard relationship becomes a wall between you and your inner self. As much as I value my keyboard to write – when it comes to journaling, writing is a therapeutic activity in and of itself. 

Read about My Reaction to Change.