PSA: Dealing With Someone Who Is Overwhelmed.

I’m not entirely sure what the Live Your Legend topic was for today.  It’s been one of those days.

I woke up at 3 this morning with one of those headaches that feels like someone has driven a knife through my eye, and into my brain.  Took some pain meds and actually fell back asleep.  This is kinda good because I’ve been struggling with insomnia of late, and waking up anytime after midnight usually just results in me trying to sleep, and succeeding at all.

It was a struggle to get out of bed…  And I got to work late.

I’ve been wearing a couple of hats at work lately. Which is good for my career, but not so good for my sanity. My boss keeps commenting that he’s worried about me, and doesn’t want to burn me out. And then assigns me busy work, or offloads a decision he doesn’t want to make onto me.

Thanks, Man.

The truth is, I’ve been burned out before, and this is nowhere close to that. But I am overwhelmed. Between work, home, family and personal issues, I’m barely keeping my head above water.

Lots of people ask how they can help.

The thing is…  When they ask, I have to then spend energy trying to find a way for them to help me out.  Usually, they throw in some kind of helpful comment about me needing to be willing to let go, give up control and trust people.

And then invariably, after I’ve spent time finding something they can help with, explain it to them, they drop the ball, and I’m left picking up the slack and being even further behind than I was before.

My advice.  If you’re seeing a friend, family member or co-worker who seems overwhelmed, don’t burden them with the additional task of having to find a way to shed some of the load and make you feel better.

I think that’s what drives most of this. Mike seems overwhelmed, Mike is busting his ass, and I’m sitting here like a lazy schmuck.

If you want to help me, or anyone…  Figure out what they need and do it.

Or just support them.  Something a simple acknowledgment of their effort and achievements will go further than any form of help or support.

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