7 TIPS FOR MANAGING FEELING OVERWHELMED AT WORK
Everyone has moments when they feel overwhelmed at work. Whether it’s a high workload, tight deadlines, limited resources, or another reason, feeling overburdened isn’t sustainable.
In the long term, if you don’t find a way to manage the issue, it can lead to burnout.
So, what can you do when you start feeling overwhelmed? Here are 7 tips to cope better:
1. Create a schedule (and stick to it)
Meeting deadlines and completing all your tasks on time can be tricky if you have a heavy workload. This can quickly lead to feeling swamped, so it’s important to manage your time.
Proper time management is essential for staying on top of things, and the best way to do this is by creating a schedule for yourself. You can use it to factor in all your meetings and other work events, and then you can start putting other items into your to-do list.
Having a daily schedule and following it means you can remain productive throughout the day. It also means you can schedule the right amount of breaks, which you need to feel regenerated.
2. Have clear boundaries
When you have a lot of work today, the natural response is to start putting in more hours or rushing through tasks. But, this can make the problem worse and leave you stressed.
Instead of just working harder, make sure you set clear boundaries between your work and personal life. This gets your brain out of “survival mode”, so you can avoid burnout and actually start planning and finding ways to become more productive.
First, make sure you have a set start and end time for the day. Stick to your scheduled tasks as much as possible and avoid taking on more work than you can manage. This helps you plan your day more effectively and gives you more structure.
3. Prioritize the most important tasks
If you’re struggling to keep on top of your tasks, start by making a to-do list, as this makes it easier to track what needs to be done and which items need to take priority.
If you have a long to-do list, we know this can be daunting. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you have so much to do, which is why it’s so important to start prioritizing urgent tasks.
Instead of trying to do everything at once, start with more urgent tasks first. Once you start, it’s much easier to make progress as it gives you a surge of motivation and the list will seem a bit more manageable.
4. Limit yourself from distractions
If you’re getting behind on your work because of distractions, try your best to limit these as much as possible to keep up with your schedule and avoid becoming overwhelmed.
For example, if your phone keeps distracting you, try putting it on silent, do not disturb mode, or simply switch it off and put it away. Or, if your coworkers keep coming over to chat, ask them if you can catch up with them later as you’re focusing on something essential.
5. Stop aiming for perfection
Perfectionists often feel under pressure and they often set unrealistic expectations for themselves, and this is a common reason for feeling overwhelmed.
To avoid this, try to set realistic goals, as this will mean you’re less stressed and more confident that you can complete all your tasks on time. Knowing when something is good enough, rather than obsessing about it being perfect, can make a huge difference in productivity.
6. Delegate tasks and ask for help
If you’re constantly feeling like you’re overwhelmed at work every day, it could be that you’ve taken on too much. Be realistic about how much you can do, and if there are too many tasks on your to-do list, it might be time to start delegating or asking for help.
Instead of feeling guilty about all the work you can’t do, start by speaking to your bosses about taking some of the burdens off you. Or, if you’re in a position to delegate work to others and there are tasks they can easily do, start doing it.
Asking for help isn’t admitting that you’ve failed. It’s part of working as a team – it’s important for the company, as it ensures that tasks will be completed properly and on time.
7. Take care of yourself
Last but not least, when you feel overwhelmed at work, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Feeling stressed in the workplace can start to affect your personal life, so make sure you take time to unwind, relax, and focus on yourself in your free time.
Don’t forget to eat properly, take time for hobbies, socialize, exercise, and spend time outdoors. This is essential for staying focused and productive when you are at work.
