5 Steps to Actually Ask for Help - and keep asking!
Hey Mama,
You might be like me and know that asking for help is something you should do. Actually doing it is the issue. If that’s you, read on for steps you can take to start asking for help (and keep asking for it).
First, know that you aren’t alone so you’re in good company! Topics like this are ones I work with my clients on all the time. Trust me: There’s nothing you’re doing “wrong” to not ask for help.
Awareness and action are two different things. You have the awareness that asking for help can support you, so here’s some action to pair with it right now:
- Make a list of all the things on your mind right now. You can totally use a notes app on your phone but if you have paper and pen available close - grab that. Take a deep breath, feel gravity pulling you towards the earth and take just two minutes to do a little brain dump of what’s weighing on you right now.
- Circle the items on your list that you don’t want to do for whatever reason. Note: It doesn’t matter if you’re supposed to do them or should want to do them. If you are dreading it for some reason, it gets circled.
- For each item circled, ask yourself a few questions:
- Does this have to be done right now?
- Does this have to be done by me?
- Who can do this instead of me?
- Pick ONE item from your circled list that does need to get done but you don’t have to be the one to do it and make a list of who can do it instead. This might be your partner, a trusted company like TULA with assistants for moms like us, a neighbor or even your kiddo, depending on their age.
- Ask that person to do the thing. I know, this is the tough part. Consider that the earlier you ask for help, the easier it is for that person to help. The earlier you ask, the less stressed you’ll feel in your request for support.
- Remember a few important things:
- You are worthy of others helping you.
- Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s actually a sign of strength.
- We can have it all, Mama, but we don’t have to do it all.
That’s it! How did it go? Repeat those steps each time you’ve feeling a wave of overwhelm and in time, I promise, the process gets easier.
I’m not here to tell you in six months that all of your overwhelm will go away but I am here to say that you have tools and other humans to support you getting through it a little faster each time.
You’ve got this,
Caitlin
Caitlin Morris, PCC, A-CFHC is an Overcoming Overwhelm Coach. As a mom of three and business owner, she knows a few things about feeling overwhelmed. She’s also here to say: You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Join her email list to receive empowering wellness tips to your inbox at https://coachingwithcaitlin.com and connect with her on Instagram @_withcaitlin.