What to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed At Work
Learn to deal with difficult situations better.
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How did you sleep today?
Bad? You might be stressed and overwhelmed. Your days are busy with tight schedules, demanding clients, problems, and misunderstandings. No wonder you can’t sleep.
When you feel anxious, you are less productive. It becomes even worse. As stress takes over your brain and you cannot function. So, there are:
- More deadlines to cope with.
- More difficult conversations to have.
- More troubleshooting to deliver at least something.
Ufff. It is a terrible place to be in. You sometimes have a lot on your plate. But instead of drowning in anxiety and hate for your job, you can decide to fight it back.
Here is how.
Notice what’s on before it’s too late
I know many people who do not realize they are stressed until someone tells them. Is it you?
Do you work at full speed until you reach the rusty bottom of your energy tank? Coffee won’t save you, my friend.
Don’t let yourself collapse. Spot early signs of feeling overwhelmed. Always see the big picture. You are at risk of developing mental discomfort if you burn out.
Notice if you suffer from:
- Bad habits
- Lack of energy
- Broken routine
- Not enjoying your work
- Broken sleep and nightmares
- Lack of appetite and weight changes
Sounds familiar? Something is not working. Find out what it is.
It can be challenging projects, difficult people at work, and unpleasant conversations ahead of you (for instance, when you have to fire someone).
Ideally, you eliminate a source of your work anxiety. It does not have to be difficult. Just start.
Eat that frog
Brian Tracy says there isn’t enough time for everything on your ‘To Do’ list. Don’t aim to do everything. It is impossible. Instead, learn to prioritize and focus.