Do you feel overwhelmed at work? Is your work life feeling like a house of cards, teetering on the brink of collapse? Are you drowning in decisions, meetings, and deadlines, with barely a moment to breathe? And do you dread going to work each day, wondering where the joy and purpose have gone?

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many leaders and professionals find themselves trapped in a cycle of busyness and overwhelm, struggling to keep up with the relentless demands of the modern workplace.

I recently worked with a client who described her situation as exactly that – a house of cards ready to crumble. Too many decisions, too many meetings, too many deadlines, too little time. It was simply too much to continue as is. Going to work was a dread, not a joy. She longed for the days when work was engaging and fulfilling, asking herself, “Wasn’t this supposed to be fun?”

This overwhelming busyness spilled over into her personal life, leaving her too tired to work out, too tired for social activities, and feeling generally dissatisfied with life overall. It was clear that something needed to change.

Unmasking the Busyness

Over a few weeks, we worked together to unpack this “busyness” and uncover what was driving it. We discovered several key factors contributing to her overwhelm:

• Fear of making wrong decisions: The constant pressure to make decisions, often with limited information and time, had created a sense of fear and anxiety. Busyness became a way to avoid making those decisions, to delay the potential consequences.
• Default urgency: Everything was treated with the same level of urgency, creating a constant state of reactivity and stress. There was no prioritization, no discernment between what was truly important and what could wait.
• Lost vision: Her leadership vision, her sense of purpose and direction, had become lost in the chaos of daily demands. She felt like she was just reacting to the latest fire drill, rather than leading with intention.
• Lack of impact and self-doubt: She felt like she wasn’t making a real impact, leading to feelings of self-doubt and questioning her own capabilities. She wondered if she was “enough.”

Restoring Control, Reshuffling the Deck

We began our work by focusing on restoring her sense of control to counter this overwhelm at work sentiment. This was the crucial puzzle piece, as so much of her experience felt out of her hands. By reclaiming control over her time, her energy, and her decisions, she began to regain a sense of agency and empowerment.

With this newfound sense of control, other issues began to unravel:

• From busy to strategic: Instead of just being busy, she started to focus on the tasks and projects that truly advanced her career and aligned with her goals.
• Prioritization over urgency: The default urgency was replaced with conscious prioritization. She learned to discern between what was truly important and what could be delegated or deferred.
• Vision to reality: Her leadership vision was clarified and articulated, both on paper and in communication with her team and manager. This created a sense of purpose and direction, guiding her actions and decisions.
• Impact and confidence: By focusing on her priorities and vision, her impact became clearer than ever before. This boosted her confidence and dispelled the self-doubt.

The result? A breath of relief for both of us. It wasn’t just about preventing the house of cards from collapsing; it was about reshuffling the deck entirely and building something far more resilient.

Ready to Reshuffle Your Deck?

If this resonates with you, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, lost in busyness, and yearning for a more fulfilling and impactful work life, it’s time to make a change. My coaching services can help you:

• Reclaim control over your time and energy.
• Clarify your vision and priorities.
• Develop strategies for managing overwhelm and stress.
• Build resilience and confidence.
• Create a more fulfilling and impactful career.

Don’t let your work life feel like a house of cards ready to collapse. Reach out today, and let’s start reshuffling your deck. Here the link to my services.

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