#203 | Tips to Reset on an Overwhelming Day With Erin Shrimpton

Overwhelm seems to be creeping into every industry at every level. Could it be the constant connection our phones cause? The blurry boundaries work from home creates? This week, Erin Shrimpton, psychologist, executive coach, and LinkedIn Learning instructor, joined our weekly coffee chat to talk about what to do when overwhelm strikes. Let’s face it, we all have those days where the to-do list keeps growing, the emails are overflowing, and it feels like everything is urgent.

Erin reminded us that one of the quickest resets is a simple phrase: “Be here now.” It’s a mini reminder to pull yourself out of the mental chaos and focus on what’s right in front of you. After that, Erin’s a big fan of the 4-7-8 breathing technique. Inhale for four, hold for seven, exhale for eight. Remember that you can ask others to help you prioritize because more often than not, things aren’t as urgent as they first seem.

Another crowd favorite? Asking yourself, “What’s important right now?” Sometimes we pile expectations on ourselves and think everything needs to happen ASAP. Erin proved that when you communicate with others, deadlines and expectations can be a lot more flexible than we think. Don’t be afraid to check in and ask, “Can this wait until tomorrow?”

I loved her advice for building in low effort habits like doodling or walking throughout the day in short spurts and what to do when you start feeling overwhelmed in a job interview. The next time overwhelm hits, choose an action you’ll feel good about sharing later, whether that’s doing something joyful or tackling what truly matters most. It’s less about getting everything done and more about creating moments you’re proud of. And remember, we’re all figuring this out together.

Timestamps:

08:58 The negativity bias that we all have right now

11:20 “Be here now” mantra and breathing technique

14:26 What to do when everything feels urgent

23:30 How can leaders become better in high pressure environments

27:27 Low effort habits that make a big difference

33:22 How to stop yourself from freezing or procrastinating when overwhelmed

40:19 Tips for feeling overwhelmed in a job interview

46:14 A common struggle all workplaces have

49:10 How to handle annoying coworkers

Links:

Erin’s LinkedIn Course: Tips to Reset on an Overwhelming Day

Atomic Habits by James Clear

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