You know how your toddler gets so overwhelmed, so worked up, that he just can?t calm himself down? Or maybe you have a friend who is so overwhelmed by life that every problem gets blown out of proportion? Perhaps you?re a graphic designer who has been working non-stop on creative, mind-exhausting project after project? You know the signs, vacant, far-away eyes, coffee-stained t-shirt, hair in disarray (more than usual anyway). You try to talk to her, but all you get are some mushed up words, and you?re pretty sure that she said ?Need?more?coffee?please? but you can?t be sure, and you?re afraid to ask because it might cause her to break down into a flood of tears.

Too much to do, too little time to do it in and too few breaks. It?s tough on anyone in any job. But as a creative person, I think that the toll is even greater. You see, we can?t just shut everything off at the end of the day. There isn?t a switch to flick that tells our brain that working hours are over and it?s time to relax. No, our minds keep going, dwelling on that logo we?ve been stumped on, the web site that we just can?t get to work in IE6, that ad we need a brilliant headline for. Over and over and over again, until we eventually fall into a creative coma.

That is why it?s vitally important to find something that helps you decompress at the end of the day. Whether it?s running 5+ miles, chasing after your 17 month old kiddo, playing in your garden, or watching the Bachelorette (don?t worry, your secret is safe with me!), do something, ANYTHING to set your mind free. Even if it?s just for a few hours. Or minutes. Or even just a few precious seconds. You?ll be more relaxed, feel calmer, AND be raring to go the next day, diving into all of the projects lurking on your desk. And chances are your co-workers will like you just a little more when you aren?t biting their head off (or stealing their chocolate) because you?re so overwhelmed.

If you are looking for a team that loves to work, work, work, and knows when to take a break, we are the team for you! Visit our web site to find what we do, and how WE CAN HELP YOU.

Thanks to @diapaulic for his blog topic suggestion.

We?ve all had days like this: everything that can possibly go wrong, has gone wrong. And then some. The new, big and important customer has been amazing to work with, adding project after project after project and is keeping everyone busy and happy. But?they expect all of the additional work to be done within the original budget. And then that newish monitor (only 1.5 years old) just up and dies on you. Do you repair it or replace it, repair it or replace it? Or just make due with the smaller but still decent monitor that wasn?t being use anyway. And then there?s the computer that seems be possessed. Some days it?s fine and other days, well, it seems that it rather not be working and continues to freeze. 3, 4, 5 times a day. Add to that the normal stresses of life, family, pets, friends, finances, and on and on and on. It?s enough to send you over the edge, down the river, to the ocean and onto a small raft that will take you out to sea and away from everything and everyone.

It really is amazing how much we can take and still keep going. I believe that we are given only as much as we can handle and just when you think you?ve reached your breaking point, you find just a little bit of strength left (it?s usually hiding in your pinky toe) that pulls you through. The trick is taking that last bit of strength and using it to your advantage. While freaking out and running around like a mad-woman with her head cut off does provide amusement for the office staff, it really doesn?t do much to help you or improve the situation. Instead, I suggest trying one (or all) of these 5 tips.

1. Find a solution. It?s so easy to get wrapped up in what is going wrong that you lose site of what the problem is. Instead of focusing on the problem, placing blame or pushing the issue under the rug, focus on finding a solution.
2. Make a list! If you are overwhelmed by all of the work that needs to be done, all of the places the kids need to be, or all of the chores that need to be done at home or in the garden, start out by SITTING DOWN, writing a list and prioritizing. You?ll probably find out that you can handle everything that you have going on. Chances are everything will look less intimating on paper.
3. Enlist the help of others. And listen to their advice! It?s easy to miss the solution to a problem because you are too close to see it. Take a deep breath, step back, ask for help, make a decision and move forward.
4. Talk, talk talk. There?s nothing wrong with over communicating, it helps not only you, but anyone else you are working with if everything has a complete understanding of what is going on and what is expected. And if questions, concerns or issues come up later (such as, who ate the last piece of chocolate?), ask! You?ll only add more stress to your life if you don?t know the answers.
5. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Need I say more?

One final note, everyone has stress to deal with. Be kind to those around you, they could be dealing with something just as bad. Or worse. Showing just a little bit of kindness and sympathy will make their day, and yours, that much brighter.

If you are looking for a team that has the creativity to tackle the task at hand (even under pressure) we?re the team for you. Visit our web site to learn more about what we do, and how we can help you.