Managing mind around feelings of overwhelm

Hi! I have gone freelance recently and it’s going very well (I just submitted another ask a coach on this topic, on owning my new career success), which is amazing. I feel so proud and grateful and like it’s a privalege to be paid to do this work, which is so fun, and I’m so passionate about and get to grow through.
It’s funny though, how when you finally start to get what you’ve wanted for ages, it brings up a ton of other stuff…
Because as I touch on in that other submission, I am also feeling quite overwhelmed atm. Specifically around juggling multiple freelance projects. There have been moments where I feel so overwhelmed and panic that it’s too much and I can’t do it. And get into a rabbit in headlights stress response.
I’m working hard, and sometimes it’s impacting my sleep. And I’m struggling to get the balance with work atm, and other social stuff. Feeling like i’m ‘behind’ on social admin, like messaging and being there for people, and guilty about that, even though I know that I want to prioritise my new career launch right now.
It seems to be specifically about juggling different projects / task switching which I find overwhelming. I’m doing 2-3 days a week in a part-time role at a magazine, then 1 day on a book course, and the rest of the week is for other freelancing and social / rest time.
I don’t want to give any of my projects up right now. But I do feel very stretched. I know that this is a good thing, but I also feel boarderline stressed by the amount of newness and thinking it’s not possible to start and juggle all of this at once.
I’ve thought about changing the c line and pausing some projects, but I’m not sure that I want to. My plan is this 2 day week thing to give me basics for rent, then the book opportunity is amazing and I want to prioritise this over the next few months, bc I have a strong understanding of the why for me, and it’s a time limited op. Then re other freelancing, I decided that I want to continue, but tone it down a bit, to take the pressure of me.
Do you have any other thoughts on how to manage my mind, so that I’m feeling less overwhelmed, and am not wasting time between switching tasks panicing?
I’m going on holiday in mid july for 3 weeks, so looking at the next 7.5 weeks as a new chapter of my launch. I’m also happy to go for it now, especially knowing that I have the 3 week break to look forward to after.
Thanks so much

 

 

Answer:

Isn’t it fun how when we get what we want our brain likes to create some new problems for us?  Thank your brain for all it is trying to do to keep you alive.  Keep checking in with yourself and your body physically and with your nervous system.

How much of the stress is coming from the projects and the details, and how much is coming from being stressed about being stressed? What are your thoughts that are creating the emotions you’re uncomfortable with?  It sounds like you want to continue doing what you are doing. If that’s the case, then what if you just dealt with the overwhelm that comes from your schedule and didn’t make it a problem? How might your energy shift? Do some exploring and see what you find.