How to go from Surviving to Thriving at Work (and in Life!)

Introduction

Do you ever feel like your gas tank is running on empty? That you've taken on more than you can handle, saying yes when you should have said no and now you're overwhelmed as you try to keep the mask on?

In today's fast-paced world, we’re expected to wear many hats and it's easy to get caught up in juggling work, life and everything in between. And we’re expected to make it look easy! We load up our plates with all sorts of tasks that we’re never going to get on top of, while holding the mask in place to show our team we’re in control, to reassure our boss we’re cut out for the responsibilities and to impress our clients. In the process, we lose sight of what's really important, drowning in a sea of commitments.

Survival Mode

If you can relate then you’re in Survival Mode! You’re surviving when you should be thriving.

Stuck in this exhausting cycle, you’re constantly on edge, reaching for quick fixes like a new jacket, a bottle of wine, or a weekend getaway. But these are distractions that only provide temporary relief. They don't address the underlying issue of burnout and overwhelm, which is still waiting for you after you get back from your getaway.

Don’t get me wrong, a new jacket, a bottle of red and a quick holiday are all great things but they’re to be properly enjoyed, not used as crutches to help you cope with the daily grind.

There is a silver lining: it doesn't have to be this way. You CAN thrive at work and still find time to switch off and enjoy life. You don't have to rely on band-aid fixes to get by.

You can achieve the contentment you crave. Getting a better night’s sleep, being present at family events or just unwinding with your favourite people – without the guilt. It sounds amazing, doesn’t it?

How to start Thriving

Here are three simple steps to help you move from surviving to thriving. These have helped me get through the overwhelm and I know they’ll help you too:

1. Review Your Priorities: Take a step back and assess what's truly important. Be honest with yourself about what deserves your attention and what doesn't!

2. Back Yourself Up: Gather evidence to support your decision to say No when you need to prioritise more important tasks. This will give you more confidence to say No.

3. Set Boundaries Early: It's okay to be vulnerable and admit you’re low on bandwidth and it’s better to do this early on so there are no surprises later.  Setting your boundaries takes practice but once you get into the habit, you’ll find yourself having more time and headspace to focus.

Conclusion

I want to reassure you that feeling overwhelmed is perfectly normal and we’ve all been there. It’s when it becomes all consuming and takes over your life that you need to reassess your priorities. Something clearly isn’t working and asking yourself what isn’t working and what needs to change is a great place to start to break the cycle so that you can carve out more time, energy and fun in all areas of your life.

My Invitation to You

Feeling overwhelmed and stuck in survival mode? I'm here to help!

Send me a message at info@cornerstonecoaching.co.uk for a virtual coffee chat and we’ll explore how you can beat the overwhelm, build your confidence and start thriving at work. You'll leave with three actionable steps to get you back on track.