We all have limits, but we push these limits to achieve our career goals and to find happiness. Especially at work, we tend to take more work than we can do, and that leaves us feeling overwhelmed. We all experience situations when we get so busy with work and still, the work doesn’t seem to end. We become intimidated by the work, which makes it harder for us to get started on it.
But don’t worry, everyone feels like this, and it is completely normal. Relax and catch your breath, and follow these tips to manage your workload.
Here are seven tips that can help you in managing your work:
1. Be true yourself, if you cannot do this much work, accept it
Sometimes we take more work and responsibility, thinking we can do that much work. But in reality, taking more work when we already have so much to do can affect the quality of our work and make us feel overwhelmed. That is why it is important that you stay true to yourself and acknowledge to yourself and the people you work with and for, that the workload is too much for you. It will allow you to figure out a creative solution to manage your work, complete it, and then take more work.
2. Know your project, strategy and set goals accordingly
One way to manage your work is to know the project in and out. Make sure you know what your responsibilities and role are, ensure that you know what your employer expects from you, and what strategies they have made to complete the project. Once you are aware of this, set your goals, and work to achieve those goals. Ensure that the goals are small and big. Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals, and work accordingly.
3. Play to your strengths
Every person has unique strengths and skills that they can bring to work. These unique skill set can make your powerful and valuable to your firm and team. But sometimes circumstances are such that you do work which doesn’t require your unique strength and is something you are good at. It makes us frustrated and overwhelmed. The best way to get out of this situation is to take work that requires your strength.
4. Choose the meetings you should go to
You don’t have to be part of every meeting that takes place in the office. Before attending a meeting, ask if you are required there, and is it important that you attend it? If it is a general meeting or something that you can skip, do that or ask someone else with less workload to attend the said meeting.
You have to be selective with your time, and give priority to the work which is of utmost importance.
5. Plan ahead
When you plan ahead, it gives you clarity about what needs to be done. This is a good thing as it doesn’t overwhelm you and doesn’t interfere with your work too.
6. Inbox-managing is important
We get numerous work-related emails every day, and you must check them all without getting overwhelmed. How to do that? By taking out two minutes and checking all the mails. Don’t give more than two minutes to do that, check all emails, reply to the ones that need replying, or share the ones that you need to share with a colleague and be done with it.
7. Take breaks
Taking a break while working is important, especially if you have a lot of work. It not only relaxes you, brings peace, but also takes care of your physical body. So, in between work, take out time to stretch, walk, and eat something.
You can even go and chit-chat with free colleagues, as it helps to get your mind off things that are stressing you. Lastly, take a break to breathe; it is the most important thing to do.
Work is important, but getting ill due to it, is not a smart move as it affects your work too. So, follow these tips and manage your workload now. You should maintain a planner for the work management. Creating your very own personal planner with all the grids, images, fun quotes and colors that’ll motivate you to get through the work.