Helping Someone Overcome Stress; - Ask Yogesh Sood

This article offers thoughtful advice for supporting someone with overwhelming stress, especially if they’re managing multiple responsibilities and a large to-do list. Here's a summary of the key points from the letter and actionable steps for someone like your sister to take on her Getting Things Done (GTD) journey:

Key Advice:

  1. Offer help gently:

    • It's important to check if your sister is ready for help before offering GTD techniques. Since she’s already overwhelmed, introducing GTD should come with empathy and understanding. You can share your positive experience with GTD but avoid pressuring her to adopt it.


  1. Reduce the scope:

    • When overwhelmed by tasks, break them down into smaller, more manageable actions. Instead of seeing a huge project, focus on the very next step. For instance, if writing an article feels daunting, the first action could be just opening a document. The smaller the next action, the less overwhelming it feels.

  2. Prioritize Before Email:

    • Starting the day by tackling the to-do list and calendar before checking email helps to stay in proactive mode. Reviewing priorities before reacting to incoming requests allows for better control over the day’s agenda.

  3. Make the backlog a separate activity.

    • When overwhelmed by an email backlog or old tasks, make those tasks a project of their own. For instance, move all unread emails into a "backlog" folder and put "process backlog emails" on your list. This clears space for the present tasks without losing track of older, lingering tasks. Often, people find they don’t need to return to the backlog after a few months.

Additional Considerations:

  • ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): Your sister’s ADHD diagnosis may make it harder for her to implement GTD strategies effectively. ADHD can affect focus and task completion, so it might help her to work with a coach or seek resources specifically designed for adults with ADHD, like Successing with Adult ADHD by Abigail Levrini.

Your role as support:

  • Be a gentle and understanding support. Share your experience with GTD without overwhelming her, and let her decide if and when she wants to give it a try. You can help by being a sounding board and offering small, actionable steps when she feels ready.

By offering advice in this way, you’re supporting her in a more helpful and compassionate manner, and respecting her readiness to adopt a new system.

YS


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