Over the last few weeks my life has seemingly moved from the slow lane, by passed the middle lane and flown into the fast lane. While this has happened for me I have also met a number of others who also feel like life is currently moving too fast, their stressors are high and their ability to cope is wavering.

Now I count myself lucky that when this happens I have two things that can instantly start steering my back across the middle lane and into the more relaxed slow lane, firstly I recongnise when this happening so I can do something about it and secondly I have very supportive family and friends that I can count on to take away some of the overload.

I know that the reliance on others is not something that everyone has but what we do all have is the opportunity to just stop and sit, the capability to grab a notebook and pen and get all those chasing thoughts and ‘to do’s’ out of the chasing mind and down on paper.

It may be the case that you think you don’t have time but at the time you find yourself in the fast line it is immerative that this is something you make time for, I can promise you it will make all the difference.

Once your thoughts are out on paper and you can see clearly step by step what needs to happen the load becomes a little lighter. My favorite thing to do is to take a brightly coloured pen and tick off things as I go (usually flourescent pink), the feeling of seeing the ticks mount up during the day instantly calms my mind.

In today’s world it seems that we have gone back to the fast days before Covid, which for a while slowed everything down. It is like people have forgotten again how to walk instead of run, be at peace with the world around them and look out for others on the way.

So, if this is you and right now you are feeling the strain of overwhelm then please note the above, reach out where you can, speak to others, ask for help then grab that paper and pen to empty your mind and fill the ‘to do list’ with actions. I can promise you things will then become clearer.

Now I am off to tackle my to do list for this weeks Macmillian Coffee Morning at St Cadocs Church Raglan on the 29th September, my Torfaen Breakfast meeting in Cwmbran on September 30, my MBS show at Chepstow Racecourse on October 1 oh and our wedding on October 8!

Busy times.

© Beverley Jones

Author of Made it Thru the Rain

www.awakenmentoring.co.uk