Overwhelmed at Work? Here’s What to Do

Work plays a major role in our lives. When we get too busy at work, every aspect of our lives takes a hit. Getting a handle on things is crucial for happiness, success at work, and your future. We can all get overwhelmed at work, but few of us know what to do when that happens. JōbSource is here to help. Here are seven strategies you can start implementing right now to overcome that mountain of work.

Feeling Overwhelmed at Work? Here's What to Do

Plan Your Day

The easiest way to feel crushed by your work is to be unorganized. When you’re juggling multiple things at once, disguising between things is vital. Planning takes the work piling up in front of you and sorts it into clear tasks. Break jobs up into what you need to do that day, that week, that month, and that year. If you need to, you can even get more specific and plan things out hour by hour. If you’re not already doing this, get a calendar or notebook and keep your tasks updated. Setting updates and scheduling on your computer is another great solution. This may be annoying at first, but over time it’ll become an indispensable tool to your success.

Make Small Goals

Once you have your tasks written out and you have a grasp on everything you need to do, it’s time to get to work. When looking at all the big projects you have coming, it’s understandable to start feeling your heart rate increase and that sensation of being overwhelmed starts to creep in. Take those big tasks and break them into smaller goals. Turning one task into a dozen smaller ones might seem counter-intuitive, but in reality, it actually makes simpler assignments that you’ll achieve faster. This’ll build up momentum and makes these overwhelming projects much less intimidating. Before you know it, something that you had no idea how to get around becomes far less discouraging.

Take Breaks

We all know that hard work is important, but so is taking breaks. Your mind needs time to recharge. No matter how passionate you are about your work or how much you love your job, taking a step away from it from time to time will do you a world of good. Go grab a coffee or take a walk. Ten minutes is all you need to give your brain some rest, stop being overwhelmed at work, and come back to things with a clear mind. If you are working from home, you can also take short naps for 15 to 20 minutes to feel refreshed. You can also get yourself a comfy mattress that can help you get relaxed quickly, for which you can check out the Sleepify comparison and find a perfect mattress for yourself. Moreover, take these breaks seriously and don’t skip them. You deserve to unplug and refocus.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Time for some harsh truth. Lots of workers get overwhelmed because they’re not holding themselves accountable. Missing deadlines and not managing your time efficiently is a surefire way to make that happen. Only you are going to be able to say if you’re really trying your hardest or if you’re allowing yourself to make excuses for not getting things done. Take charge of your work, focus, and put in your best effort. Be your own boss and your own critic. Don’t let yourself accept failure and be proud of yourself for every goal you accomplish. You’ve got this!

Learn to Say No

No matter how talented you are or how much work you’re capable of putting in, you can’t do everything. If you’ve established yourself as someone who gets things done, others have definitely taken notice. This is a perfect recipe for coworkers shifting their responsibilities onto your plate and causing you to fall behind on your own work. If your coworkers are taking advantage of your work ethic, it’s time to say no. You and your work come first. Of course, it’s important to be a team player, but if you can’t do your job first then you’re in no place to help others. There’s no need to be rude about saying no. Simply express that with your current workload you can’t take on additional tasks. Ultimately, your team and company will appreciate the higher quality work you can put out rather than trying to take on more than you can deal with.

Get Some Sleep

When you’re being pummeled by work, things like sleep start to feel expendable. If you’re doing this, you need to stop. Getting a good night’s sleep will make a world of difference. Sleep plays a role in stamina, focus, and memory. Cutting your sleep cycle short will make work you normally deal with easily start to seem far more daunting than it actually is. Eight hours of sleep is what you should be aiming for, six at the very least. To make sure you get this, set a specific time where no matter what is going on, you stop working. Give yourself sometime before bed to unwind. This makes sure you’re not still thinking about work when you should be sleeping. If you have a medical marijuana online card, you could even make use of a relaxing strain or product before bed to help you clear your mind and fall asleep. Getting the correct amount of sleep each night means that you’ll wake up every day performing better at work. A bit of beauty rest won’t hurt either. That said, if you’re not sure about using marijuana, you could also try consulting a sleep doctor as they might be able to provide you with tips and tricks on how to get good sleep. If you’re not sure about where to find them, check websites like https://gwinnettsleep.com/ to know more.

Go on a Vacation

Work can be a serious and stressful environment. When in the midst of a brutal work week or extensive project, it’s important to put things in perspective. Your job isn’t everything. You and your mental health come first. So, go on vacation and do some fun weekend activities to free your mind. You can take your family on a tour, maybe for sailing (check Kai Kanani Sailing or similar agencies). Spend time with your loved ones and enjoy the little things in life.

It is easy to get overwhelmed at work. Projects and responsibilities quickly stack up on each other and before you know it, you’re feeling buried. Implement these strategies and overcome the stress that has been weighing you down. If you decide you’re ready for a career switch, then check out all the amazing jobs we have online or visit a JōbSource branch today!