When you feel overwhelmed by so many things that seem as though they’re not working for you, it’s hard to know what to do.

You may be searching for the best place to start. Rather than choosing the ’best’ starting place, think of where you are at the moment as yet another fork in the road in your life. There are many of these forks and decision points throughout our lives. It’s easier to make choices when we think of these forks and decisions as all leading us eventually to the same destination.

Where you are going in your life, what you want to do and be, and how you want things to be for you are important ideas that you can explore further by working with your values (more about values later).

Simply pick a place to start so that you can get going. Choose something to change that is important to you.

Stick with only one thing. Pick a task that will be easy and achievable.

For example, you might choose to:

·       Notice the times you feel angry/despairing/scared throughout the day

·       Do one small thing that gives you some exercise

·       Breathe deeply for three breaths during your day

·       Smile at someone you don’t know

·       Set an alarm clock to remind you to go to bed on time

·       Plan your food for the week

What you can do:

Decide on something that is important to you that you will change.

Choose a small step that you will start with.

Get support from family or friends who can be your cheerleaders.

Look inside yourself — notice your thoughts, feelings, the way you are behaving — when you are doing something different.

Reward yourself as you go along — a pat on the back, a special time or doing something you really like.