5 Things To Do When You Have Too Much to Do

Sometimes you just have too much to do.

Your todo list is a mile long, deadlines are passing, and you feel like you will never catch up.

When you find yourself underwater with your work, you want to get back on track quickly. Today, I have several tips to help you get out from under your heavy workload.

What to Do When You Have Too Much to Do

We all have times when we have too much to do.

It can be tempting to “give up” on some of your work. To throw in the towel and just call it a day or even week.

Yet, you don’t have to resort to these extreme self-defeating measures. Don’t punt on that important goal just because you overloaded. Don’t declare email bankruptcy just because you feel behind on your inbox.

Rather, when you find that you have too much to do… it’s time to refocus.

It’s time to determine what you really need to get done and concentrate on the most important tasks on your list.

“When you have too much to do, you need to refocus on what is truly important.”

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You may have 100 tasks on your to-do list, yet probably only 10 of them really matter. When you have too much to do, it’s time to get laser focused on what truly matters.

Here are 5 Things to Do When You Have Too Much to Do:

1. Stop Taking on More Work – When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you need to do is stop digging. I am amazed when I see individuals who are behind on their work… agreeing to take on more. Learn to say “No” when appropriate.
2. Reclaim Your Calendar – When trying to “catch up,” you need to reclaim as much time as possible for your work. Look at your calendar and determine which appointments you need to cancel or reschedule. Then block time for your work and deliverables to ensure that you have adequate time to make up ground.
3. Minimize Your Todo List – If you todo list has become unmanageable, it’s time to get it under control. Review your list and eliminate any tasks that aren’t important. Reduce your list to the bare essentials.
4. Work Priorities Only – You need to stop doing anything that isn’t a priority. Make sure that lesser priority tasks are not being given attention. Put all of your effort on the top few tasks that must be done.
5. Put Yourself First – Many people have trouble putting themselves first. You won’t be able to help others until you have taken care of yourself. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself, but rather it helps you be able to assist others.

Managing the Unmanageable Workload

When you have too much to do, take a moment to take inventory of your situation.

Don’t give up, but instead, double down on the things that are most important to you. Put yourself first and concentrate on getting our from under that mountain of work.

Stop struggling to get too many things done, and instead concentrate on doing your most important things.

Question: What tactics do you use to catch up when you are too far behind? You can leave a comment by clicking here.