It happens every time a new semester starts. I seem to forget that I was able to handle everything pretty well the previous semester. Once I see the assignments and put them in my planner so I don’t forget anything, I see the amount of work that I need to do and I freak out. How can I handle this, with my full time job and three part time jobs?

My anxiety shoots through the roof the week that the new semester starts, and I seriously start re-evaluating my life. I tell myself I can’t handle it, it’s too much work, I can’t do it. But…last semester I did it, and did just fine.

Now, as I’m writing this, I’m currently in the summer semester, managing my school work and actual work and still having the weekends to myself. By the time this posts, I will be freaking myself out again with the fall semester, and feeling very overwhelmed. I’m not sure I can stop myself from feeling overwhelmed – it happens with school, when the break from violin teaching is over, when I sign up for something new (e.g. 4-H…although I’m not doing that again this year, I don’t need to be bullied by an 8 year old). But, I’m hoping this will be a reminder to myself (and you) on how to not let overwhelm control your life.

Drop Something

If you’re really feeling overwhelmed, maybe you are doing too much. If something was cancelled, would you be relieved? Maybe you should consider dropping it from your schedule. For me, I don’t want to drop anything. I love teaching violin, biology for homeschoolers, adjuncting microbiology classes, working towards my Ph.D., and my full time job is pretty cool too. I did drop 4-H, comparing this year to last. I was relieved on weeks I didn’t have to lead the 4-H club I started. That was a sign to me that I was doing too much, and if I dread doing it, I shouldn’t spend my time on it. Is there something in your schedule that you consistently get relieved when it is cancelled? Do you always dread doing something in your schedule? If so, maybe you should evaluate if it’s something you should continue.

Figure Out Why You Feel Overwhelmed

Why are you feeling overwhelmed? Whether by talking it out with someone or writing it down in a journal, try to figure out why you’re feeling overwhelmed. I think I’ve figured it out to being related to the change in my schedule. I notice I get overwhelmed at the start of a new semester or a new activity (like volunteering for VBS). I think it’s because I’m seeing that the “free” time that I had previously in my schedule is now once again filled. I think that is what makes me feel overwhelmed. Not the activity itself, necessarily, but the fact that the time I had just a week before is now gone. Now, sometimes weeks are busier than others, and there’s nothing you can really change. In this case, I usually drop the least important thing, which is Back to Stable Hill. So, if you ever notice that I miss a week (or two), it’s likely because I’m feeling very overwhelmed and stressed out with my other (more important) obligations.

Complain to Your Support System

Sometimes you just need to vent, and then everything will right itself. I am lucky that my family is very supportive of my endeavors. I still complain about my school assignments or any of my jobs. Then I’ll turn around and tell them I’m going to start a home bakery. While I haven’t started that yet (and that’s definitely a good thing), my family is very supportive. They tell me I can do anything I set my mind to and that even though I’m feeling overwhelmed, I can handle it. Whoever your support system is – your family, friends, coworkers – just venting can often help with overwhelm. I often make problems much bigger than they need to be, and the outside perspective really puts it into view.

Give it to God

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

– Isaiah 41:10

Sometimes I feel like this is to silly of a problem to hand over to God. After all, I literally signed up for all of this, so I should be able to handle it. It’s not like this is an unexpected illness that I’m feeling overwhelmed by. Does God really care that I’m overwhelmed by everything I’m willingly taking on? The answer that I have to keep reminding myself about is yes, He does really care. When we’re stressed out in life, He tells us to give us our worries and cares, and he will give us peace. It doesn’t mean the situation is automatically going to be fixed, but rather that we won’t need to stress about it, because it’s in God’s hands, not ours.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

– 1 Peter 5:7

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

– Matthew 11:28-29

It’s in our nature to worry about things, even things we willingly put ourselves through. It’s less in our nature to hand it to God. I remember my pastor back in Virginia saying we often go “Here, God, here are my struggles,” and then taking them right back and worrying about them again, as if we think God can’t handle it. It’s a surprisingly hard thing to do – handing your worries to God and letting Him handle it, but it’s something that we should work on. I certainly do, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’m hoping this post will be a reminder to me (and you!) that God can handle our worries – we don’t have to do it on our own.

All Scripture is from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

If you are not 100% sure that you’ll go to Heaven when you die, now is the time to repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you have any questions or doubts about your salvation, click here to learn how you can be saved!

Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions below or you can contact me here! I love hearing from you!