Drowning in Work? 7 Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed

 Feeling overwhelmed at work? Discover 7 practical strategies to manage your workload without burning out, from prioritizing projects to recognizing when to push back deadlines.

Okay, so if you're feeling totally swamped at work right now, just know you're definitely not alone. Between all the crazy stuff happening in the world and just the normal ups and downs of work life, we all hit those periods where everything feels like too much.

Since you're probably already stressed out, I'm not gonna waste your time with a long intro. Here's my personal list of things that actually help me when I'm drowning in work—without just telling you to work more hours (because honestly, who needs that advice?).

1. List out all your projects (seriously, ALL of them)

When I'm feeling like I'm at my limit with work stuff, I've noticed I actually spend more time planning, which seems kinda counterintuitive, right? But it works for me.

First thing I do is grab a notebook (or open a new doc) and just brain-dump every single project I'm working on. Even the little ones. I mean everything—that report that's due next week, that email you've been avoiding, that meeting you need to prep for. Get it all out of your head.

What usually happens is I realize that, duh, not everything on that list is equally important. Some stuff is actually way more urgent than others. This separation is super helpful when you're in the weeds.

After I've written it all down, I take a hard look at what's there and think about what tasks I could maybe delegate (if you have that option), what can be pushed back, or honestly, what can be dropped entirely. Sometimes there are things we think we "have to" do that... we actually don't? It's pretty freeing when you realize that.

2. Those deadlines? Challenge them!

After I've got my big messy list, I look at all the deadlines and try to be real about whether I can actually meet them. I think about how much time, focus, and energy each project needs.

When you're overwhelmed, you're probably running low on at least one of those three things—time, focus, or energy. That's just how it goes. So what I've found helpful is to:

• Reach out and see if any deadlines can be pushed back a bit (people are usually more understanding than we expect)
• Look at which projects will give the biggest return and focus there
• Maybe decide to spend less time on some lower-priority things that won't make much difference in the long run

Sometimes I'll realize a project I thought was super important is actually not going to make that much impact, and I'll cut corners a bit there to focus on the real priorities. Not ideal, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

3. Block your calendar like you mean it

This one took me forever to actually do consistently, but it's been a game-changer. After I've figured out what's most important and urgent, I literally schedule blocks of time in my calendar for when I'm going to work on each thing.

Not just like "I'll do this sometime today" but actual time blocks like "9:30-11:30 AM: Work on quarterly report." And then—this is the hard part—I try to actually stick to those blocks.

What I've found is that when I dedicate chunks of time to specific projects, I make way more progress than when I'm just kind of bouncing between tasks all day. Plus, having it in my calendar means other people can't book meetings during my focus time (well, they still try, but at least I have an excuse to say no!).

4. Cut back on the stress you can control

Okay so this one might seem obvious, but I catch myself forgetting it all the time. When work is super stressful, I need to dial back other sources of stress wherever possible.

Like, maybe don't check the news every hour (or at all for a few days?). Maybe stay off Twitter/X or Instagram or whatever your poison is. I've noticed I often reach for my phone to "relax" but end up feeling more stressed after scrolling through bad news or comparing myself to others.

It's weird when you think about it—we actually choose to do a lot of stressful things even when we're already maxed out. I had to really face this fact when I was writing my book about staying calm. Chronic stress is what leads to burnout, so cutting back on optional stress is super important.

Some days I'll even take a different route to work just to avoid traffic that I know will stress me out. Sounds silly maybe, but these little things add up.

5. Make time to let your mind wander (sounds weird, but trust me)

I call this "scatterfocus" in my book—it's basically intentional mind-wandering. And I know what you're thinking—"I'm super busy, why would I waste time daydreaming?" But hear me out.

Research actually shows that when our minds wander, we think about our goals 14 times more often than when we're focused on something specific. So letting your mind drift can actually help you get clarity on your priorities when you're super busy.

Plus, your brain needs breaks to recharge. I've had some of my best ideas while doing something totally mindless like taking a shower or going for a walk without my phone.

Sometimes when I'm really overwhelmed, I'll literally schedule 15 minutes to just sit and stare out the window. My coworkers probably think I'm having some kind of crisis, but it genuinely helps me get back on track.

6. Sometimes longer hours might be necessary (but only after trying everything else)

Look, I'm not gonna pretend that sometimes working longer hours isn't the answer. If I've tried everything above and still need more time, and I think it's worth the tradeoff, then yeah, I'll put in some extra hours.

But I find that using the strategies above helps me avoid that about 90% of the time. And that's pretty good odds!

The key for me is being intentional about the decision. Working late because I've chosen to finish something important feels way different than working late because I'm disorganized or saying yes to everything.

7. Recognize the signs of burnout before it's too late

This is super important. If you're feeling some mix of exhausted, unproductive, and cynical about your work—those are the classic signs of burnout. And a massive workload is one of the biggest contributors to burnout.

If you're noticing these signs, it might be time for a more serious conversation with your manager about your workload. I've been there, and I waited way too long to have that talk. Trust me, it's better to address it before you hit a wall.

Sometimes cutting back might mean:

• Asking to be taken off a project
• Requesting temporary help
• Being more ruthless about saying "no" to new requests
• Taking some time off if possible

I struggled with this one for years because I didn't want to seem like I couldn't handle my job. But I've learned that managing your capacity is actually a professional skill, not a weakness.

Some Extra Thoughts That Help Me

When I'm feeling super overwhelmed, I also try to remember a few things:

• This busy period probably won't last forever (even though it feels like it)
• Most work emergencies aren't actually emergencies
• Nothing is perfect, and good enough is often... good enough
• Taking care of myself actually makes me more productive in the long run

I've had times when I thought I couldn't possibly get everything done, but somehow, by prioritizing and focusing on what truly matters, I've managed to get through. And you will too!

Are these strategies perfect? Nah, of course not. Some days are just gonna be tough no matter what you do. But they've helped me survive some pretty intense work periods without completely losing my mind, so maybe they'll help you too.

What strategies do you use when you're feeling overwhelmed? I'm always looking to add to my list!