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Quicksand - Don't let being overwhelmed paralyze you.

By
Real Estate Agent with Weichert Realtors, The 505 Group

QuicksandI don't know about you, but when work starts piling end up I tend to retreat into my happy place . Ok, it's not so happy. I turn grumpy and tired and start pointing out everyone else's flaws rather than dealing with my own.

Nothing significant gets done. Only the bare minimum of maintenance makes life bearable and prevents EPA action.  Inboxes become fuller, things stagnate and growth and improvement simply does not happen.

The only way to float out of the mess I create is to pick one spot, whether it is on my desk or in my mind and force myself to focus.  To accomplish ONE thing. Whether it is filing that stack of papers or taking 1 online class....deleting mail from my inbox or grabbing a washcloth and cleaning a particular dusty window sill.

Once that  one thing is accomplished the light breaks through the clouds and I focus on the next ONE task and soon my office is running efficiently, my desk is clean, my transactions are organized. It is almost miraculous.  If I spend the day planning how to dig myself out  - more dirt gets piled on and if I'm not careful I go do something deadly like take a nap or read a book.  But when I grab my spoon and start shoveling... I'm closer to the place I want to be.

1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Sometimes it is overwhelming and there's only way out.  I'm grabbing my shovel.

 

May 15, 2009 03:27 AM
Sabrina Solesbee
Solesbee Group - Laguna Beach, CA
Sabrina Solesbee

Isn't it funny how being really busy can put us in that place!!  DO IT NOW!!! is my motto... that way I can keep from getting too overwhelmed!  Thanks for sharing!

May 15, 2009 03:31 AM
Tim Bradley
Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY
Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

We must have been separated at birth. I have the same problem and same response - so now to get to it!

May 15, 2009 03:34 AM
Shoshana Shay
St. Pete Realty - Treasure Island, FL

This is when a to-do list makes me happy.  If I can write it all down and then get one thing done, somehow it's more manageable than having everything jostling for priority in my mind...:}

May 15, 2009 03:38 AM
Katharine Fly
Weichert Realtors, The 505 Group - Clovis, NM

Hah! - you caught me. I was in my happy place writing the blog ignoring the work staring me in the face. Of course if I call writing work instead of play, we are good. Thanks!

May 15, 2009 03:49 AM
Monique Combs
Royal Shell Real Estate - Bonita Springs, FL
Royal Shell Real Estate - Monique Combs

Katherine,  Great post. It is so true. For me, I always say" If I clean my house & car" My mind gets cleaned too!

May 15, 2009 03:50 AM
TIM MONCRIEF
Tim Monciref - Austin, TX
Over 2,000 homes sold…..

It is a merely not being in control of the tasks in hand.  Stepping away for 5 minute and coming back and re-prioritizing what is left in the day calms me down.  There are things that don't get done.  That is OK as long as they are not money making items.  e.g. paperwork

Sell on.....

May 15, 2009 03:52 AM
Rita Minion
O'Brien Realty - Solomons, MD

Hi Katherine,

Terrific post and it's all so true!  When I get swamped I usually prepare a "To Do List" for the day.  That usually works for me and I scratch the items off as the tasks are completed.  If I take a few minutes the night before, or the morning of & prepare the "To Do Lisit", I always get most of the items completed for the day.  If I have 1 or 2 items unfinished, I do them the next day.  This usually works for me.  Thank you for sharing.  

Rita

 

 

May 15, 2009 04:01 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

So agree, I sometimes just get to overload and have to take a walk, somehow the piles look smaller and more approachable when I return.  Thanks for the post.

May 16, 2009 03:58 PM
Laura Gray
RE/MAX Realty Group - Gaithersburg, MD

Katharine -  think we just get so overwelmed my all of the details involved in every aspect of our life that the coping mechanism of "doing nothing" takes over. Sometimes I need a down day just to be able to get focused enough to have a "Git R Done" day. 

May 17, 2009 04:01 PM