Everything, Everywhere, All At Once | by Maia Rocio Gonzalez

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, this blog has very little to do with the (amazing) Oscar-Winning film ‘Everything, Everywhere, All At Once’. 

In the Golden Age of connections, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You have Everything, Everywhere, All At Once in front of you. There are so many expectations.  Making sure you keep in touch with everyone, working hard, socialising, paying bills etc… It’s a lot, really.

And what happens when our brains have Everything, Everywhere, All At Once to think about?

Short Circuit. Error 404. Please restart system.

It’s not fun…
And sometimes we don’t even realise we’re balancing eight plates at once until we crash!
And then you’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do!
So, how do you prevent yourself from ‘software crashes’? What are the signs? And how do you prioritise yourself above all your plates?

Analysis Paralysis

I was first introduced to this delightful term by a colleague of mine, and it instantly resonated: ‘Analysis Paralysis’.

If you work with data, the chances are you’ve already experienced this a handful of times.

Sometimes it’s when you’ve been staring at the same bit of data for 3 hours straight, or if your brain is already fried when going into a new piece of analysis.

Regardless, your brain just can’t compute. And you get nowhere. Sometimes, you go down a silly rabbit hole, which you only notice when your brain is feeling refreshed.

It’s very clear that this term relates to data, yes. But, this term can also relate to your everyday life. This 
Have you ever felt frozen in the middle of a decision? And your brain doesn’t feel like it’s processing the decision let alone the pros and cons?

That’s Analysis Paralysis!
You’ve been in your own boots too long! When you’re busy living life, you’re only seeing it from where you’re at. This means you may be missing some key points, feelings, indicators etc that could help you come to a good decision.
 So, what to do? PIVOT!

Find something else to do for a bit. Clear your mind. Go for a walk, bake something, read a book, take a nap, have a bath. Talk to someone! Get a different perspective. Do anything that can momentarily help you not spiral into thought. 

The Balancing Act

Sometimes, we get used to what’s on our side of the fence. And because of that, we’re the last people to realise when we have too much going on!

Take a step back and ask yourself:
How many plates am I juggling right now?

Would you expect anyone else to maintain equilibrium with all of this in mind? If not, then why would you expect yourself to do it?
Do you need to be balancing all these plates? Is there anything that can be put on the back burner for a bit? 

Does this apply to everything? Well no, we all have priorities and they’re not always fun. And we can’t always afford to drop the ball when we do have too many things on. But where you can step back and help yourself, do it!

Fear and Opportunities

At times, what can cause our brain fuse to blow is letting fear engulf an opportunity.
This is because the road ahead looks unclear, confusing or risky. But taking a risk isn’t always bad! As long as it's a calculated and well thought out risk.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. If there’s a job you may be slightly underqualified for and you’re afraid to apply. What’s going to happen if you do? They either give you a call or not. You lose nothing in doing this. You may even find that you actually are qualified for it but you’re talking yourself down!
(Obviously some reasoning to this, don’t apply to be a Spanish teacher if you don’t know any Spanish…)

If you approach opportunities with fear only, you will fail to see them as opportunities.
Do not be afraid of new things.

How to Choose You

What do we mean by ‘choose you’?

Are you certain that the decisions you are making are truly in your best interest?
And if yes, are you sure?
This reflection could take you down a whole town’s worth of decisions. If you’re actively choosing and thinking about you, then great!

But, if you’ve realised it could do with some work or actually no. Then this is something you need to dive into.
You see, if you do not ‘choose you’ then you will continue to burn yourself out. It will be cyclical almost. 

There may be simple fixes, like finding a hobby so you’re compelled to finish work on time.
    Or meal prepping to eat a bit healthier!
    Or you may find that you need to find an external helping hand. Like going to therapy for example.

Therapy? 
All of a sudden it got scary, no? But it’s not scary, really! Think of it as the gym for your brain. Or like a MOT for the brain? (Said as a true non-driver).

It is scary to spill what’s on your mind. Or to even find a way to put into words what you’re thinking. But it’s worth it! It can help you learn more about who you are and how to care for yourself. It’s a journey, and if you can - do it!

Everything! Everywhere! All At Once! 

Most importantly, if you do feel overwhelmed, speak to someone. You’re not the only one to feel this way! Maybe someone can give you a different perspective or can help to lighten your load.

It’s not weak to want to reach out or ask for help. It’s the opposite in fact! We’re social creatures - life isn’t a journey we’re meant to do completely alone. 

(And while you’re here, go watch Everything, Everywhere, All At Once because it’s a brilliant film. #notsponsored)

Maia Rocio Gonzalez is a Payment Fraud Specialist and Level 4 Data Fellowship apprentice at Multiverse based in the UK. Maia’s writing for the Apprentice Lens as part of the Blogging Team. Here’s more about her:
‘Hey! I’m Maia. Aside from working in fraud prevention, I like to get stuck in with all things artsy. I love to paint, draw, knit, sew, crochet - if I don’t already do it, I’m certainly open to learning it! Fun fact about me - I used to tell people I’d never have an office job or work with numbers and now I do just that and love it.’