Having just been through a particularly overwhelming time of dealing with a critical situation in my business, I feel like I’m writing this article for myself! But I am certain that there will be many of you feel the same way, either now, in the craziness of the season, or in the past or future.

Being responsible for the running of your business can at times be overwhelming. The very same advantages of being your own boss can also become sources of stress. Often it is financial issues, but in addition, every business owner is busy and generally stretched to capacity, which is why time constraints and deadlines can be a regular source of stress. Getting sick or dealing with an unscheduled interruption is really not an option and can be overwhelming.

Clutter and disorganisation can add to the feeling of being ‘out of control’ and definitely impacts on productivity and efficiency. In general, not knowing what to do next and having the constant pressure to make crucial decisions, can all add up to being overwhelmed.

So what’s the answer? At times, it will be a case of pushing through. As Dr Phil says “Anyone can do something when they want to do it. Really successful people do it when they don’t want to”.

But you also need to be sensible. If you feel overwhelmed more often than not, then you need to seriously take stock. Are you wearing too many hats? Do you need to make some hard decisions about where you spend your time and energy? Being overwhelmed to the point of inaction, or worse still, at the expense of your health, is not a viable or sensible long term solution.

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender