This morning, I received an email from one of my blogging buddies, where she said,"Everyone I speak to seems to be so completely overwhelmed. I have been, too."  I don't think this is a short-term condition.  Witness the popularity of the phrase, "crazy busy." Photo by eyesplash Mikul.

It's not just work that is causing us to be crazy busy.  My son is a high school senior and between classes, taking the SAT, college applications and college interviews/visits, he's crazy busy.  I was crazy busy on Saturday, starting at 9:30am, with a reunion of the group of kids that went to China this summer, to running errands around town (including a mad dash to the Borders with my older son to get a book on preparing for the SAT) to picking up my younger son and his friends from a homecoming dance. My day ended after midnight.  

This is not to engender sympathy. Or to win an endurance competition.  Resting and rejuvenating has its place.  But sometimes, it's necessary to be operating at peak performance, when everything just hums along. One small hiccup (like my son getting mono last spring before AP exams), throws a monkey wrench into everything. Whether it's getting through a tough project, or a month of business travel, or a packed weekend, there are times when you need to be operating at your best, to get whatever you want to get done. 

So, here are my top tips on maintaining peak performance, even when crazy busy:

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  Exercise every day or at a minimum, get fresh air. And I mean every day. Whether it's a ten minute walk outside your office or doing yoga stretches in a hotel room (I always travel with a yoga mat), this one act will energize you. At home, I've taken long walks with my sister on a cold gray day and once, even ventured out in a snow storm. (I wore ski goggles).  Moving your body and getting more oxygen to your brain are essential to life. Plus, I always feel better afterward. Photo by Jomzki
• Watch what you eat.  It's easy to gorge yourself on rich food, extra desserts, and another glass of wine, especially when you are traveling and on expense account.  But as I've gotten older, I've not only heard that our bodies don't need as many calories, I can feel it. My body rebels when I've "fed the meter one too many quarters."   Instead of the usual portion of meat or pasta, I cut it in half and load up on green veggies. Or a big slice of cantaloupe. If I have a craving for something sweet, I substitute really fresh fruit (peaches have been remarkable this season) for that brownie. If all else fails, I will sneak one spoonful of chocolate ice cream (what's a teen household without a constant supply?) and no more. Once again, eating only what I really need (and want) keeps me operating smoothly. 
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  Get enough sleep. It's been commonly reported that most Americans don't get enough sleep.  I try not to be one of them. If you have trouble getting to bed on time, try setting a timer for the optimal time when you'd like to be in bed.  Just the act of knowing that a timer will go off will make you more aware of how you are spending your evening time.  Honestly, one more email, one more load of laundry, or a clean kitchen isn't going to make a difference.  Better to get the sleep and feel refreshed in the morning. Photo by supagroova.
• Make time for your creative side.  This may be counter-intuitive for some of you.  You may be thinking, "What if I don't have a creative side?"  However this looks for you, it's the thing that once you do carve out time for, you wonder why you aren't doing more of "it."  Like me and blogging.  Or a friend I know who plays the cello in a community orchestra and loves to write songs.   This is exactly the type of activity that fuels peak performance.
• Breathe. This is one of my favorites and was the inspiration for this post.  My friend, Sally, after noticing everyone is overwhelmed, put on her blog a posting titled, "On Breathing."  The lovely thing about breathing, deep breathing, is that you can do it anytime, any place. In the middle of a meeting, as a break from a spreadsheet rally, or while in a traffic jam.  

Looking at this list, it seems like common sense.  But common sense has a way of eluding us, especially when we are fighting lions and tigers in our everyday life. 

One last tip:  Ask yourself, when things feel overwhelming, what do I need now to maintain peak performance?  

Your best self will know. Listen carefully, and act.