Are You Suffering from Noverwhelm?
Between conference days and holidays, “No School November” is always a challenging month for our family. It feels like we’ve just gotten the school routine established when it all implodes like a Halloween sugar high. Combine the lack of routine with the shorter daylight hours and chillier temperatures, and all of a sudden I’m wearing my grumpy pants more often than not.
It has taken me a long time and a lot of coaching to figure out what response works best for me when a positive routine gets disrupted. I don’t always follow these steps - sometimes I just reach for the Nutella jar or my phone instead. But I always feel better moving through my angst instead of avoiding it with sugar or scrolling.
Here are the steps I take when November overwhelm (Noverwhelm?) sets in:
Acknowledge the discomfort. Or, as my coach Anna says, “Name it to tame it.” It is so helpful to simply say to myself, “It’s November and November can be frustrating because the kids are around a lot more and I still have to get all my work done.”
Remind myself that discomfort is just a feeling, it’s not a fact.
Rewrite my story. I can choose to flip the script from “No School November is annoying” to “November represents a time to focus on flexibility and family fun.”
Reach into my self-care toolbox to help myself reset, not escape. Maybe I need a glass of water, or some snuggles with my dog. Maybe I need to stretch or meditate. The tool is not always the same, but the toolbox is always there.
How do you respond when your routine goes out the window? How do you think coaching might help you with Noverwhelm? Reach out and let me know!
