{"id":111858,"date":"2020-06-04T19:30:49","date_gmt":"2020-06-04T23:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbach.net\/?p=111858"},"modified":"2022-08-11T16:46:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T20:46:06","slug":"9-things-to-do-when-youre-slammed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/9-things-to-do-when-youre-slammed\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Things To Do When You\u2019re Slammed With Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"9<\/a>We have all been there – Work starts to stack-up –\u00a0 deadlines, assignments, meetings, reports, bosses, staff and COVID-19 are all demanding your attention. How the %$#&*! do you get anything done <\/strong>with all of these distractions?<\/p>\n

When we have too much to do, we can freeze. Spinning without traction<\/strong>, we move fast but don\u2019t make progress on the things that are creating our stress. Because when there\u2019s so much competing for attention, we don\u2019t know where to begin and so we don\u2019t begin anywhere. 50% of people report<\/a> feeling overwhelmed at work<\/strong>. Herding turtles<\/strong> as a former co-worker described it.<\/p>\n

\"Herding<\/a>Having a lot to do and having too much to do are very different things. No matter how you define them, a lot can be motivating<\/strong>, but too much can make you freeze<\/strong> in your tracks, resulting in you doing a whole lot of nothing. No matter how well prioritized your tasks and projects might be, when you have too much to choose from, you often simply don\u2019t know where to start.<\/strong> Here are nine tricks<\/a> to calm your mind and dive into your herd of turtles when you feel overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

Freak out<\/h3>\n

Try giving yourself some space to freak out. Set a timer for ten minutes and freak out, surf the Intertubes or stare out the window. It will help get the anxiety out of your system.<\/p>\n

\"Stop<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stop beating yourself up<\/h3>\n

Your reaction is normal. Get strategic about how to chip away at your work.<\/p>\n

Take five breaths<\/h3>\n

The military uses tactical breathing<\/strong><\/a> (PDF) when faced with critical situations, and this technique is proven to help people handle frightening work stress. Breathe in for a count of four, hold for four, breathe out for four, and repeat.<\/p>\n

Write it down<\/h3>\n

The act of writing by hand also has proven stress-relieving properties<\/a>. Handwrite<\/b>\u00a0everything that needs to get done. Some people find comfort in handwriting their to-do list and seeing their nonthreatening penmanship on a sheet of paper.<\/p>\n

\"Hand<\/a><\/strong>Prioritize your work<\/h3>\n

Start with prioritizing by deadlines. For tasks with shared deadlines, order them by magnitude, putting the bigger items on top. Once your priority list is final, step back and see if this gives you a sense of order and direction on where to start. If you still have a hard time getting motivated, pick the task you most want to do. It\u2019s better to do something than nothing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Start with the easy stuff<\/h3>\n

What can you knock off in the next 15 to 30 minutes? Make phone calls, answer emails, etc. Then, attempt one of your beefier tasks.<\/p>\n

\"You\u2019re<\/a><\/strong>You\u2019re not alone<\/h3>\n

Talk with a co-worker. People love to help others solve problems. Share your project challenges with a trusted colleague what do when they have too much on their plate> What can you delegate? Can someone be bribed with a coffee? Can you talk to your manager to gain some perspective and guidance about your workload and priorities.<\/p>\n

Use Timers<\/h3>\n

Set a timer for 30 or 40 minutes – something you can commit to. Focusing your attention will increase your motivating stress and decrease your paralyzing stress. The contained time periods will also give you a framework that will help you chip away at the important work.<\/p>\n

Harvard Business School<\/a> explains<\/a> that working against time keeps us focused. Using a short time frame actually increases the pressure but it keeps our effort specific, and particular to a single task. That increases good, motivating stress while reducing negative, disconcerting stress.<\/p>\n

\"Go<\/strong>Take Twenty<\/h3>\n

Go for a walk or get a coffee. Take some time to truly disengage your brain from the work you\u2019re doing. You\u2019ll be surprised at the focus and brilliance you bring to your big list of tasks when you\u2019re feeling refreshed.<\/p>\n

Feeling overwhelmed and stressed doesn\u2019t have to stop you from being productive. Instead, there are real steps we can take to make what we need to do more manageable, which will help us get more done.<\/p>\n

Stay safe out there!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Related article<\/strong><\/p>\n