“There’s just too much to do and not enough time to get it all done!” Sound familiar? There are days where work just seems like it’s closing in on all sides. Today’s demanding work environments and technology keep you hooked into work 24/7 and has a large number of people feeling overwhelmed. Being overwhelmed at work can stifle your creativity, defeat your productivity, lead you to make more mistakes and minimize your feelings of accomplishment. So, what can you do to regain control of your workday? Here are 4 strategies you can use when you start feeling overwhelmed at work.
Take time to plan
Using your precious time to plan may seem like a rookie move – you could be using that time to, you know, work! – but actually setting aside some time to create a plan of action will make the rest of your time working much more efficient. So stop panicking for a minute. Breathe. Then pull out a piece of paper and dump every task you have in your mind onto it. And prioritize them. Then, instead of jumping from task to task, you’ll know exactly what you’re focusing on now and what you’ll focus on next. It’s not wasting time – it’s making the rest of your time more efficient, so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
Give your mind a chance to wander
Sometimes, to re-charge your creativity, you need to give your mind a chance to wander. When you do this, problems that seemed difficult can instantly become clearer. Run a personal errand or take a short drive during the workday. If you’re in a corporate job, or a situation in which you don’t have the flexibility to leave the premises, you can always pick an alternative, like doing a mindless but necessary task such as photocopying a bunch of documents. This makes it easier to see the big picture and the easiest path forward, whereas continuing to bang away thinking about issues often just makes you feel overwhelmed.
Allow others to help
If you are the “go-to” person at work, don’t overdo the self-reliance. Stop and ask, what am I doing now that someone else could do or at least help with? Now, for the hard part: Ask them to help and then let them. You can’t lessen your responsibilities while also being the hero.
Propose a solution to your boss.
If you can’t find a way to ease up on your own, you’ll eventually need to talk to your boss — which can be terrifying, because you want them to see you as a valuable asset who can consistently deliver and add value. The good news is that you can be all of those things and still need clarity or guidance. Instead of showing up unannounced and saying, “Hi, I’m drowning in work, help,” take a moment to think through some potential solutions with an attitude of fixing the problem. Focus on the fact that you care about your career growth and remain committed to finding a solution that works for both of you.
Everyone gets overwhelmed at work from time to time, but it doesn’t need to lead to anxiety or excessive stress. The key is to make sure that you stay in the moment, pick your priorities, and recognize that everything is an opportunity for growth. Once you do these four simple things, you’ll be motivated to take action, conquer feeling overwhelmed and can regain control of your work and your life.
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