An Antidote for Overwhelm

Do you ever feel like the news is just too much? Lately, that's been me. Some days I hold it together. Other days, I just feel overwhelmed by it all.

That's usually my sign to take a break, because overwhelm freezes me up, and I need to be able to take even small actions against the injustice I'm witnessing.

Find Your Version of a Break

If you feel this way too, even just sometimes, I want to encourage you to take a break of your own. What that looks like can change day to day, but one of the best things I've found is simply going out and walking around the neighborhood.

For me, that means bringing my dog, Ginty. But I'd encourage you to try it whether you have a dog or not. Even on days when Ginty is struggling, the walk still gets my mind off the news and onto helping her instead.

Sometimes Ginty and I just sit for a while at the park.

Walking Into Community

I'm lucky enough to have a park just a few blocks from home, and it's become part of our regular route. Ginty and I aren't the only regulars there, I've started noticing the same neighbors, saying hello, and slowly building a small sense of community. A few of them I've started chatting with.

One man in particular has a small dog who's often struggling too, and that's become our connection. We talk at whatever distance the dogs feel comfortable with, and in the process, we end up helping each other's dogs calm down as well.

Try It This Week

So the next time you're feeling overwhelmed - by the news, or just by your to-do list - try taking a walk. Let me know how it goes.