Ever found yourself buried under a mountain of tasks with deadlines looming ominously? Times like this lead to confusion and frustration where you don’t know where to begin or end.
I have been in such situations many a times. Here’s a simple method that has helped me whenever I felt overwhelmed with work.
Step 1: Pause and Breathe:
The first step is to sit at your desk, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Inhale deeply and then exhale slowly. Focus on your breath going in and coming out. This simple act of mindful breathing for couple of minutes helps slow down the racing thoughts and brings a sense of calm.
Step 2: Write It All Down:
Grab a piece of paper and a pencil. I prefer pencil over pen as it makes me feel empowered, I can erase or change it. Write down every task you need to accomplish. Don’t worry about the order or priority just yet; the goal here is to get everything out of your head and onto the paper. This brain dump allows you to see the full scope of what needs to be done and often makes the workload feel more manageable.
Step 3: Prioritize and Plan:
Now, review your list, interconnections and start assigning priorities to each task. Determine which tasks need to be done by you, ones that can be delegated and ones that need collaboration / ideation with other teams. Allocate timelines, identify additional resources you may need.
Step 4: Reflect and Adjust:
Take a moment to sit back and reflect. How do you feel now? For me personally, seeing a clear, organized plan reduces the sense of overwhelm and gives a sense of control.
What works best for you when you’re feeling swamped with work?
Perspectives 