10 Things to Do When You Have Too Much on Your Plate

Do you have too much on your plate? Trying to chew more than we can swallow is a mistake that everyone has committed. Like adding items to the basket, we add chores to our list. We only become aware of how damaging this strategy may be later in the day when we stare at the lengthy list of unfinished business.

Without a good plan, taking on too much can negatively impact your health, work output, and personal life. The truth is that high productivity and efficiency do not always follow a hectic schedule.

On the contrary, rushing through projects to meet deadlines might degrade the quality of the work.

1. Delete the Clutter

We frequently overestimate how much we can accomplish while significantly underestimating the time and effort required. As a result, we consistently fail because we strive to do too much.

Donate outdated clothing, organize your home office, phone your college buddies to let them know you won’t be able to meet them for a while and check your calendar for worn-out commitments that take up too much of your valuable time, energy, and attention. By doing this, you can stop wasting time on unnecessary chores.

2. Grab a Scheduler and Start Planning

Making a plan of attack is the best method to reduce the stress brought on by having too much to do. Even if you haven’t glanced at your scheduler or planner in a while, pull it out and begin entering the tasks you have to complete.

Start with the events that are fixed in stone, such as meetings and appointments. Plan the other things you need to do around those. It is helpful to create a comprehensive list of everything that needs to be done before moving tasks from that listing onto the calendar.

3. Don’t Overcommit

Being accommodating is a positive quality, but not to the extent of going above and beyond to please everyone. Some people may stick to their plans and then put in extra effort to compensate for the lost time.

However, for others, taking on too much pressure at once can be a prescription for disaster. Knowing when to say “no” can be helpful in these situations.

4. Celebrate Mini-milestones

Every milestone and accomplishment merits recognition. Your accomplishments are validated, and your small victories boost your confidence. Please don’t ignore them.

They are equally significant to any victory. Without taking the time to recognize your small victories, what’s the use of working non-stop and pushing the clock to meet deadlines?

5. Lower the Bar to Get Started

Starting is always the first step. You can’t just sit there on your behind and keep asking yourself why and what. It won’t help you at all. If you don’t start, you can’t finish!  If you have a lot on your plate to work on and you don’t know what to do, work on your tasks for 10 minutes each day rather than 45 minutes.

Commit to two circular rounds around the block rather than a 3-mile run. Take a vow to finish the closet rather than clean the house. You can release some of your pressure by lowering the bar. You’ll also note that it’s much simpler to continue after you’ve begun.

6. Steer Clear of Distractions

You are ready to begin working on your to-do list as you settle down in front of the laptop, fully charged. But what occurs after a while? You drift off. Your hands are itching to check your phone’s notifications, so you begin scrolling through your feed on social media.

We have all repeatedly given in to distractions, so it’s difficult to avoid them. However, keeping your objectives in mind will make it easier to maintain focus and complete all the day’s main tasks without being distracted.

7. Double Your Rate of Saying No

You never choose to say no. You decided to attend the early morning coffee meeting instead of your regular workout. We commonly say yes without taking into account the repercussions up until the point that we are compelled to participate in a social gathering or Zoom catch-up which we don’t want to attend.

The most crucial word you can use is “no,” which can help you cut off the number of things on your plate. Declining brings instant insight. It respects some essential boundaries and gets rid of “open loops” from human thinking. The most significant benefit is to devote your time, attention, and bandwidth to your objectives.

8. Prioritize your Tasks

Making decisions on what is more essential and what requires your focus the most can be challenging when there is an endless list of tasks, constant emails, and deadlines that are drawing near. Knowing your priorities, however, can help you balance your responsibilities and improve productivity. After creating your priority list, go back and review it. It will help you feel more organized and in control of your tasks.

9. Ask for Help

Ask for assistance if you don’t have the opportunity to do it yourself but simply can’t say no to something. There is no rule that says we have to do every task on our own.

They weren’t joking when they said that it takes a village. You can ask your family, friends, and even your children for assistance. The kids might be unable to assist you with your most urgent responsibilities, but they can probably handle some time-consuming menial tasks.

10. Make Time to Relax

Giving oneself a break is essential for ensuring that you can complete your tasks. Working relentlessly to complete everything without a break can result in burnout.

You can become entirely powerless after doing it. You enable yourself to refuel by giving yourself a rest. Even though it can cause a slight delay, you will still be able to complete your tasks. Additionally, with a bit of relaxation, you’ll feel much better.

Conclusion

Everybody has experienced having too much on their plate at some point, and things only seem to be worsening. More work needs to be done. There are constantly more inputs fighting for our attention.

When you spread yourself too thin, you’ll begin to appreciate less rather than more. Learn to analyze your schedule and recalibrate when necessary. You’ll achieve more and stress less this way.

You’ll discover how to establish boundaries and spot a diversion disguised as an appealing opportunity. Reclaim your time and your life.

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