The worst feeling to experience at work is stress, but we’ve all experienced it. It’s better for your sanity—and your career—to fess up in order to get some help than it is to hide your incompetence from your boss or disappoint your coworkers. Instead of pretending to be “fine,” here are eight ways to actually let someone know you’re overwhelmed at work so you can resume being the successful, self-assured person you already are.
How to Manage Overwhelm at Work
Common causes of feeling overwhelmed at work
Your work obligations may overwhelm you for a variety of reasons. To figure out how to effectively manage it, you should take some time to pinpoint what is causing you to feel this way. Common causes of feeling overwhelmed at work can include:
What does it mean to feel overwhelmed at work?
When you feel overburdened at work, it usually means that you are under stress as a result of the volume or complexity of the work you are assigned. After working on difficult projects or being given numerous tasks with short deadlines, you might feel overburdened. There are numerous ways to lessen or get rid of this overwhelming sensation, such as taking lots of breaks, seeking assistance, or alerting your boss when your workload feels excessive.
Keeping yourself from feeling overburdened can help you feel more at ease and confident at work, which will help you produce better work and work more efficiently. This could impress your boss and earn you a raise or a promotion.
Tips for managing feeling overwhelmed at work
Its often normal to feel overwhelmed by your work duties. Put strategies in place to lessen your workplace stress after you have identified what is making you feel overwhelmed. Use the following advice to manage your feeling of work overload better:
Create a to-do list
Make a to-do list if you need help prioritizing, tracking, and organizing the numerous tasks you have been given. List all of your upcoming tasks using a pen and paper, an app on your phone, or a computer. You can sort your responsibilities in order of importance by writing down your to-do list items, which also helps you remember what tasks you need to complete. List the deadline for each assignment as well.
To give yourself a sense of accomplishment and to spur you on to cross out the next item, you can checkmark or cross out each task as you complete it.
Build and follow a schedule
Make a schedule for yourself so that you can submit all of your articles by the due dates. Think about using your computer’s calendar or getting a planner to record all of your appointments and other events in. You can then add these items to your to-do list from there. To make sure you always stay productive and on task, you can also create a daily schedule and strictly adhere to it.
Ask for guidance when needed
Ask your supervisor for assistance if you feel you have been given several assignments with little to no instructions on how to complete them. By conducting online research or looking over previous team members’ completed assignments, you should first try to learn as much as you can about the assignment you’re completing.
If you’re still unsure, seek advice from your manager or other workers. They might be able to provide you with tools, materials, or guidance to help you comprehend the assignment better. You can feel more assured that the assignment you’re submitting is of high quality if you are fully informed about the project.
Express your thoughts or concerns to team members
Talking with coworkers about your work can sometimes feel reviving when it’s overwhelming. Try to keep the conversation professional and avoid being negative or complaining. Request a meeting with them and take a few minutes to discuss any difficulties you are having with your work obligations. They might be sympathetic and able to provide encouraging words or support.
Receive feedback on your work
You might doubt the accuracy or compliance of the work you submit with your supervisor’s requirements. Think about asking your team members to review your project in advance. They may offer you insightful criticism and suggestions for how to polish your assignment, which could improve your chances of wowing the manager with your work.
Try to start these conversations yourself if your boss rarely assigns one-on-one meetings to discuss your performance. Inquire if they have any time available to address your concerns or suggest areas where you can improve. It is simpler to feel more confident that you are correctly completing all of your tasks when you receive insightful feedback.
Be honest about your workload
As a result of their knowledge that you are a dependable and committed worker, your supervisors or coworkers may feel at ease giving you tasks. Inform others if you feel overburdened by the amount of work you accomplish. Say something like, “Im sorry. I want to give my full attention to the other tasks I have that are due soon. When you ask, “Is there any way I could finish it by a later deadline,” you’re letting your team and manager know that you’d like to devote more time and effort to your current tasks.
Maintain a healthy work-life balance
If you take the time to unwind and concentrate on activities away from work, you may feel less overwhelmed. Spend time with friends and family, indulge in a favorite hobby, or unwind with television or movies. When you’re done relaxing and ready to get back to work, giving your brain a break will help it re-energize so that it’s ready for your next set of tasks.
Best practices for staying productive on the job
Your productivity may suffer if you’re anxious or overwhelmed, and it may be harder for you to concentrate at work. To be more productive and efficient at work, adhere to these best practices:
Take plenty of breaks
It’s best to work on each task separately for a while if you have several to finish before giving your brain a break. Spending some time in mental rest will help it to replenish and feel renewed when you return to your tasks. To get some fresh air and think about things other than work, try taking walks around the building.
Time yourself while you work
Consider timing yourself to stay on task at all times. Consider strategies like the pomodoro method, which entails working for 25 minutes at a time with five minutes of rest in between each set. You can take a 15-minute break after the fourth 25-minute period. When you time yourself, you become more conscious of how long it takes you to complete various tasks. Additionally, it inspires you to exert additional effort for a short while to continue working on particular tasks.
Understand when youre the most productive
People are typically more motivated and energized to complete tasks at certain times of the day. This is typically different for everyone. Identify the times you feel more productive throughout the day. Schedule your most important or challenging tasks for that time. By doing this, you’ll finish this project when you’re feeling motivated rather than delaying it until a time when you’re less productive.
Complete one task at a time
You might be tempted to multitask and work on several things at once if you have a lot of assignments that are due soon. Try to keep your mind clear by concentrating only on one thing at a time. You can divide a larger project into smaller tasks if you’re working on it to make sure you have time for other obligations as well. Before beginning a new task for that project, make sure to finish the smaller one at hand.
Limit yourself from distractions
There are frequently things in your environment that can distract you, preventing you from working as long on a crucial project. Try your best to limit yourself from these distractions. Put your phone in your desk and silence any notifications. If your coworkers frequently stop by your desk to chat, let them know you’re working on something important and ask if you can talk to them later. To let others know that you are currently busy, you can also set a notification on your email or the company’s business communication tool.
FAQ
Is feeling overwhelmed at work normal?
- Take Action: Take Time to Plan. …
- Take a Break: Get Out of the Office. …
- Take Action: Talk it Out with a Colleague. …
- Take a Break: Get a Full Night’s Sleep. …
- Take Action: Work on the Weekends.
What causes overwhelm at work?
No matter where you work, jobs can be stressful, and it’s common to feel overwhelmed at work occasionally. Every job has good and bad days; it’s just the nature of employment.
How do you tell your job you’re overwhelmed?
Common causes of feeling overburdened at work include having many assignments due at once. Meeting tight deadlines. Receiving too few resources to properly handle your responsibilities. Accepting too many tasks from supervisors or other employees.
