How to avoid overload

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You know you're trying to do too much when your "To Do" list becomes a "To Do" folder full of lists. Your growing pile of papers, reminders, projects and phone messages threatens to cascade from your desk to the floor. The computer screen rebukes you with message flags, appointment reminders and highlighted messages waiting for attention. Here are ways to unload some of the work that's causing you so much stress.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

a backbone
co-workers
a file folder

Step1

When the boss gives you one more task to do, say "can you give me some priorities on my current projects?" Say that you have X project, Y project and Z project, so you need to know which one has the highest priority. Sometimes the boss forgets what you're working on, and might reassign something to someone else so you can do your best on the top priority.

Step2

Some ideas and projects you would like to do, but they are your own ideas and aren't mandatory. Make a folder labeled "Future Projects" and put those in it. Park it in the file cabinet. No one will miss them and it will clear some space on your TO DO list.

Step3

Look around at your co-workers. Are there parts of your projects that fall into their territory? Move as many projects onto other workers' desks as you can. Keep track of when you gave it to them, what you've asked them to do, and when you need it back, so the project doesn't bog down.

Step4

With the "Future Projects" off your desk, and many projects farmed out to others, work quickly on some tasks that are close to being finished. Wrap those up and cross them off the TO DO list. You will get a feeling of momentum that you'll need to tackle larger projects.

Step5

Block out some uninterrupted time to tackle a big project that's been looming over you. Getting major work done on that will ease the feeling of impending doom.

Step6

Break some projects into steps that seem more manageable. Postponing a project often means it seems overwhelming. Procrastiating will just make it worse. Once you see it as smaller tasks, you can work towards completing it.