Self-Inflicted Brain Freeze

How you’ doin’? After this daily-weekly-hourly buffet of bad news, are you feeling a little stuffed up? Feeling like the world is, indeed, coming to an end? Maybe occasionally wishing it would so you wouldn’t have to worry so much?

You are not alone. Solid, grounded, intelligent people with all their ducks in a row are just as wigged out (that’s a technical term) as you. What are the tell-tale signs that you’ve hit the wall and your brain has frozen solid? And, more importantly, what can you do?  First, the signs:

• You can’t remember from one minute to the next what it is you need to do, and you can’t blame age or Alzheimer’s.
• You are more easily frustrated than usual with silly little things that wouldn’t faze you in better times.
• You “never get sick” and you’ve been waylaid by the latest weird cold going around, and it’s lasting for more than a week.
• You know you have it together. You know you can organize and get things done. But everything is disorganized and nothing is getting done.
• You feel overwhelmed and out of sorts, but can’t figure out what’s wrong.
• It feels like you are working all the time, and still can’t get ahead of the mess.

I could go on, but listing any more of these symptoms will put you into brain freeze if you aren’t already. I woke up yesterday feeling two cats short of being that batty ol’ lady that scares small children.

I didn’t realize what exactly was going on until last night. I got together with friends and had a good laugh, danced a little, let my worries go. As I drove home, I pieced together all the signs and symptoms and realized one very important thing:

This is self-inflicted! I did this to myself!

But more importantly, I realized what made me feel better. Interaction with friends, a good belly laugh, realization that I could change things. The more I had spiraled into Brain Freeze, the less time I had spent with friends. I got the first cold I’ve had in ages, so I didn’t want to spread that around. And I felt I didn’t have it in me to encourage anyone else when I was in such a state. So I didn’t go out, I didn’t eat right, I didn’t do all the things I know to do to stay healthy. No wonder I was feeling awful!

What to do? Here’s what worked for me:

1). I fixed myself some healthy food. You need all your strength, make sure you aren’t putting bad fuel into your engine.

2). I went into my files and read about 10 highly motivational pieces from several of my favorite authors. I stopped listening to the news for awhile. Some of the sensational pieces on TV and the radio are just to keep us listening. It’s not “news” anymore, but they keep banging the same drum. So, turn it off. Read and listen as needed.

3). I got out and spent some time with friends. Research shows that a woman’s oxytocin level can go up 80% if she spends time with her female friends. (Oxytocin is a healing and bonding peptide that makes us feel better.) And it doesn’t hurt to get a little exercise in the process. Get those muscles moving again and re-energize yourself. Go do something you love. I love to dance, so dancing I went.

4). I got focused. I laid out everything I think I need to do. I prioritized it and put some realistic dates next to each for completion target. And I only worked on ONE AT A TIME. There’s a downside to being a multi-tasker. When I’m operating at 100% – it’s nothing for me to be in the middle of a blog, in the middle of writing a newsletter, in the middle of checking emails and writing/researching a speech. I do them all simultaneously. BUT, when I’m under the weather and operating in Brain Freeze… it just doesn’t work and nothing gets done!

5). I looked at the things that have been stopping me. And I decided to find ways to delegate them. Sometimes I try to do all the techie stuff myself because “It’s easier.” Only, It ISN’T easier. I waste a lot of time learning something that I could delegate to someone else who has the tools and the knowledge. So I made a list of those delegatable items and got busy finding the right people.

6). I decided to chill. I need to give myself the chance to work through what’s going on “out there” and find ways to live in this new economy and this new business model. I won’t figure it out all at once, and neither will you OR your teams.

Funny – the minute –and I’m not exaggerating here — the MINUTE I set these 6 things into motion, My Cold Cleared UP. Very strange. Or not.

You can get yourself out of Brain Freeze and Overwhelm if you step back. Take stock of what’s going on. Make sure the food you put into your body, and the thoughts you allow in your head, are healthy. Take a deep breath and take it one day at a time.

If you or your teams need to work on this, call me. I can help.

To Success and Sanity!

Beth

© 2009 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc.