Have you ever had one of those days, or weeks or months where you feel so overwhelmed? You have so much to do in the office, your plate is not only full, it’s overflowing!!! Sometimes that feeling of overwhelm can feel paralyzing because you just don’t know where to start. When you face a situation like this, the best thing you can do is just START.
Don’t let yourself become crippled by the sheer volume of tasks/projects, just start one thing at a time. And of course, start on the traditional to-do list. You have tasks that need to get done, and you make a list of them. Next, take each item on the list and prioritize them according to their importance, time frame when they must be done, etc. As you complete each task, cross it off, or check it off –whatever works for you. There is something very satisfying that comes from seeing the list grow shorter!
Next, make sure you set small tangible goals. Its important to be able to see a couple month down the road and envision how you will feel when that big project is done, but stay satisfied in the little accomplishments. You can probably envision the goal you have in mind, what the final result must be. But sometimes that can feel very daunting when the task itself contains many parts that must be completed. So break down that large task into small goals. By doing this you will be able to feel that the large task is more manageable.
When you are facing the day ahead, it is always best to make a plan. Even if you aren’t one for writing that down, know what you want to accomplish and take it day by day. The overwhelmed feeling means you are trying to bite off more than you can in one day. Stick to small goals to ensure every day you can have that small sense of accomplishment.