I get the sense that there are workaholics out there (besides me) and that becoming stressed and overburdened is about as common for you as it is for me. Often, we pile a lot on our plates while we simultaneously try to find ways to relax and have fun and then have to watch helplessly when our obligations begin tearing our fun plans into bits.
Our obligations can, oftentimes, seem more challenging to us than they really are and can make completing tasks seem even more frustrating and burdensome. Once all the stress piles up, the end can sometimes feel like a distant or an impossible goal for us to reach. That is why it is so important that we try to prevent the stress from sneaking up on us before it takes complete control of our lives.
Now I know you might say that “I can’t simply avoid doing my work,” and, of course, I wouldn’t expect you to do that. In some ways, that will only make things worse and won’t probably bring you much joy, in the end. The key is to figure out what causes you stress and keep it from interfering with your work right off the bat. Some of the things I would recommend trying are:
1. Do Two to Three Projects a Day
A good rule of thumb for the workaholic is: never plan to do more than three things per day. After that, your schedule will start getting cramped and will become more susceptible to an interference or a catastrophe. This, of course, doesn't mean you can't send emails or schedule short meetings unless you wanted to get a lot of them done in one day. Plan to do the things that are most important first.
2. Take Bites Out of the Elephant
Avoid doing two or more huge projects in the same week. The best system for projects that you know will take hours to do is to taper them out. Just like you don’t eat all of your meals at once, you shouldn’t work on a big presentation or start setting up for a big event two nights before it’s scheduled. This will make you feel flustered and overwhelmed super quickly.
3. Listen to Others
You might be surprised how much other people know about getting burnt out. If a person is particularly observant, which most are, then they may offer you some advice. If they do, listen to what they say.
Since most people have their own strategies to avoid getting overworked, you will often run into a myriad of suggestions, not all of which are good. It will take time and patience to find out which work best for you, but in the meantime, it would likely benefit you to seek out people that can remain calm in stressful situations, who finish work early, who are good at prioritizing, or just somebody that you generally trust. Calling people, like family members, is another good idea.
Caution: do not press people for advice as this can make you seem overbearing or needy. If you think you need extra advice or support, it may be best to seek out additional help outside your typical circle.
4. Take Walks
A no-brainer, literally. Just let your mind wander or gently idle while you enjoy the breeze. You should let your legs stretch and your body relax. Take some water and a granola bar. Walk in safe places only.
5. Ask Yourself Simple, Honest Questions
There is no need to break everything down into pro/con lists or have long, inward conversations about what you think you’re going to do next. To set your mind at ease, ask yourself instead: “Will I be alright if I do this?” “Do I feel OK with doing X at the same time I do X?” If you already know all the details, about how much work it will take, where you’ll have to be at what time, why you have to do it, to begin with, then you should be able to start asking yourself how you feel about it doing it. Consider the consequences before taking the leap.
6. Get Some Sleep
