Ever get that “too much to do, too little time” feeling? No matter what you do, you can’t seem to shake it and the anxiety becomes somewhat overwhelming. It happens to all of us at one point or another. The to-do list simply gets to be long leaving you drowning in responsibilities and demands. Here’s the thing: no matter what, you’re only human. We all are. And, the bottom line: you can only do what you can do – and, that’s OK. Whether the stress is coming from work, home life, family responsibilities or a combination of it all, here’s a look at a few simple fixes for how to deal when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Try These Simple Fixes
Delegate- When it comes to going through a long to-do list, delegating is the name of the game. You have people there to help, so getting them engaged and on board is half the battle. Find team members, family members – whomever it may be – to help pick up the weight of your responsibilities. If it’s home that’s overwhelming, get the kids on board with chores and if it’s work, engage your team members – that’s what they’re there for.
Do what matters- Oftentimes our days are filled with lots of distractions that take up valuable time. For example, at work, meetings and conference calls fill our days when we should be spending that time working on projects. If you find yourself in this situation, be sure to make the calls and meetings count – work with your team to leave with an action plan, or make the decision so all of those in-person meetings and phone calls just aren’t necessary. Scale back.
Prioritize- Making your daily to-do list really can help when you’re feeling weighed down by responsibility. Organizing that to-do list by order of priority will really help. Figure out what has to get accomplished first and chip away at that list from high priority on. You’ll feel great by getting the most pressing projects off your plate from the get-go.
Say no- This is probably the toughest one for so many of us. We don’t want to disappoint – both in our personal lives and at work – so, our inclination is always to say yes. When we say yes to everything we’re often sinking our own ship by piling on other’s projects and responsibilities. Instead, try saying yes to the projects that you truly want to engage in. As for the projects that will leave you feeling overwhelmed – suggest them to someone else. That goes for home and work.
Remember that you’re only human- And, that’s OK. None of us are superhuman, we just aren’t – there’s no way we’ll ever be able to meet unreasonable expectations. You can do your job well, be a great leader, be an amazing parent, and still not be able to get it all done. Remind yourself – we’re all in this same boat. Everyone feels overwhelmed at one point or another – it’s part of life and definitely part of figuring it all out. We’ve all been there, and most colleagues, friends, fellow parents and family members are willing to help. All you have to do is ask.
How do you handle feeling overwhelmed?
