Summary

A solution to coping better with work overwhelm can be the recognition that work never ends. Contrary to thinking that it's you, who doesn't have things under control or is not able to manage all the work, it makes you see that work is a constant stream. And that's when you can start working and improving this situation.

There were times when I thought I could clear my inbox to zero. Back in the days when I thought I could get through my to-do list.

And the result was constant stress or a feeling of not being able to finish all my work. To do what I was hired to do.

As with many things in life, the truth may be a little different. Because I realised: It’s not possible. Which turned out to be the best insight I’ve had to help me deal with an endless amount of work. And it’s something that helps my clients with their own work pressure and stress these days.

It’s the simple but powerful insight that work never ends.

Take weith off your shoulders

This should help take some of the weight off your shoulders: Instead of thinking that you’re not doing your best, or that you’re not managing what should be your job, you can think of work as a never-ending stream of tasks. Something that no one could successfully manage.

This helps you to see that there must be a better way to deal with overwork. That trying to do everything is likely to result in less being done. And that it also works the other way round. Trying to do less will actually get you closer to your results if you do:

• say no to everything that doesn’t serve your goals
• Focus on the 20% of tasks that give you 80% of the results
• Delegate to your team

These are essential management tasks. But they can be difficult to apply. What helps when you find them difficult to apply:

And most importantly, trust that you are enough. Even if everyone around you seemingly has everything under control and you don’t.

According to a McKinsey study, in 2024 up to 43% of managers suffer from burn out. That’s a staggering number. Imagine almost half of managers feeling this way. Think of how that impacts the whole organisation.

Stress trickles down to employees. Call it second-hand stress. And it’s unhealthy.

If you want to reframe it: Make it a choice whether you will be stressed or not. Cause there are always options not to feel stressed.

Key questions to consider:

1. Identifying and Prioritizing Tasks
2. To manage your workload effectively, regularly assess your objectives and priorities. Cross-check these with your team’s overall goals to ensure alignment. Decline or delegate tasks that don’t significantly contribute to these objectives or can be better handled by others. A clear understanding of personal and organizational goals is essential for making informed decisions about task prioritization.
3. Focusing on High-Impact Tasks
4. The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) suggests that 20% of your tasks yield 80% of your results. To implement this, identify the key activities with the greatest impact by clearly defining your role’s objectives, your development plan goals, and your team or organization’s goals. Once identified, allocate time and resources to these high-impact tasks. A good rule of thumb is to focus on no more than three tasks or projects at a time.
5. Maintaining Self-Trust
6. Feeling self-doubt is common, especially when surrounded by colleagues who appear to have it all together. Remember that everyone faces challenges, and no one is always in control. Build confidence through positive self-talk, affirm your past achievements, and seek constructive feedback. Foster a supportive network of colleagues, mentors, and friends who can offer encouragement. Cultivate resilience and focus on personal growth rather than perfection to maintain confidence despite external pressures.

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