Working Successfully When You are Overwhelmed

Table of Contents

By Leo Babauta

I’ve observed that so many individuals are feeling overwhelmed, scattered, and harassed – a lot in order that focus and efficient work turn out to be extremely troublesome.

So what can we do to be simpler within the midst of this scattered, overwhelmed state?

At present I’m going to share the highest three issues I do to assist myself discover focus and effectiveness even after I’m at my most scattered.

The Interstitial Pause

The very first thing I like to recommend is a pause between something you do — I name it the Interstitial Pause.

Principally, as an alternative of switching from one activity to the subsequent, I like to recommend a pause.

If you happen to reply an e mail, take a pause — do you need to hold answering emails, or is there one thing extra vital you’d love to do?
If you happen to end engaged on a activity, take a pause — would you wish to take a break, or select the subsequent activity out of your checklist to give attention to.If you happen to discover your self mechanically opening an app or web site that’s a distraction, take a pause — is there one thing extra vital you’d wish to give attention to?
If you happen to’ve simply been given a bunch of messages and duties, take a pause — add them to your checklist, and prioritize, selecting one factor to give attention to (extra on that beneath).
If you happen to’ve been working for awhile, take a pause — would you wish to stretch your legs, get some water, clear your head?

This pause helps us navigate chaotic waters, and helps us to be extra intentional about our day.

The Versatile Focus Technique

This can be a easy, time-tested methodology for locating effectiveness when issues are chaotic:

Make a Brief Checklist: This can be a checklist of 3-5 stuff you’d wish to give attention to for the day. Select 3 issues in the event that they’re large ones, or if in case you have a day that’s filled with conferences. Select 5 issues in the event that they’re medium duties. If you happen to’re feeling optimistic, select 6 issues. Necessary: put them so as of significance.
Make a Lengthy Checklist: That is the checklist of every part else you’d love to do. Put issues which might be extra pressing close to the highest. This lengthy checklist is a “could be good to do” checklist however you aren’t going to give attention to it. Focus as an alternative of the Brief Checklist.
Deal with the highest activity: Every day, give attention to the highest activity in your Brief Checklist. Solely on that. Nothing else. Once you’re achieved with that, give attention to the subsequent merchandise.
Coping with interruptions & incoming duties/messages: The great thing about this methodology is that it’s versatile. In case you are interrupted, you may merely return to the vital activity you have been engaged on if you have been interrupted, or pause and discover one thing extra vital to give attention to. If you happen to having incoming duties and messages, you may merely add them to your Lengthy Checklist … or in the event that they’re vital sufficient, put them on the Brief Checklist and knock one thing else onto the lengthy checklist. Be versatile and permit your self to regulate to a altering panorama.
On the finish of every day: Take a second to examine issues off and rejoice your accomplishments — then merely take the unfinished gadgets on the Brief Checklist and add them to tomorrow’s Brief Checklist. Make your new checklist for tomorrow, so what to give attention to if you get began.

Refilling Your Capability

One of many largest challenges after we’re feeling overwhelmed is that we are sometimes drained and our skill to focus is lowered. We will’t tackle exhausting duties as a result of we simply don’t have the psychological power.

The observe to tackle right here is committing your self to creating self-care a precedence. What do you should do to get your psychological power the place you need it to be as a way to be efficient and focus? If we will’t get this basic factor down, then we will’t create what we need to create on the planet.

For me, this implies prioritizing:

Relaxation and restoration
Spaciousness
Train
Consuming effectively
One thing comforting like a scorching bathe, scorching tea, or hugs from a cherished one
Loving myself compassionately

If I can do these issues, then I could be efficient and give attention to what issues. What would you should do to get your capability to the extent you want it to be?