How do you keep from feeling overwhelmed.

[Deleted]

I am drowning in paperwork at work and no matter what I do it looks like I've accomplished nothing. I am so frustrated.

For those of you with procrastination issues, or even those that are super organized, please share with me the tricks of the trade. I need a new methods because nothing is working.

[bocaburger]

This is something I struggle with. I tend to get so overwhelmed by the work ahead of me that I give up before I even start. My therapist has been working with me on breaking the work into very small, manageable chunks and focusing on one task at a time. Maybe you could put the pile of work away in a drawer or something so you're not looking at it. Pull out the first form you need to deal with and just focus on that. When you finish, put it where you can see it (to remind yourself of what you've accomplished) and pull out the next form. Focus only on the one you're working on and not on the pile of work left to do.

[Deleted]

Mar 16, 2016 23:27:35 GMT -5 @alleykat05 said:

I find I do better if I make a very detailed to do list. I have to break every task in to small parts and check them off as I do them.

When I make a to do list I end losing it under other papers. Brilliant, I know.

[river]

Last year, when I was in a new role and feeling pulled in 900 directions, I used an app - 30/30. It allows you to set your own time limits - 20 minutes for answering email, 1 hour for editing a document - as you see fit. It kept me on track since I tend toward avoidance when I'm feeling really overwhelmed at work.

[icequeen]

In my planner I have hour by hour time slots and I set aside certain tasks for specific time slots. I first make a list of what tasks I need to get done and how much time I need to finish each one. I break it down into smaller portions if I need to, to avoid feeling frantic. Then I go to my planner and block off the times I need for all the tasks.

[Deleted]

Mar 18, 2016 20:33:21 GMT -5 river said:

Last year, when I was in a new role and feeling pulled in 900 directions, I used an app - 30/30. It allows you to set your own time limits - 20 minutes for answering email, 1 hour for editing a document - as you see fit. It kept me on track since I tend toward avoidance when I'm feeling really overwhelmed at work.

My big problem is that I work in a crisis center. I can't ignore the phone and I can be sent out on a call multiple times in a day.

I have alot of trouble refocusing.

[Deleted]

Mar 18, 2016 23:24:14 GMT -5 icequeen said:

In my planner I have hour by hour time slots and I set aside certain tasks for specific time slots. I first make a list of what tasks I need to get done and how much time I need to finish each one. I break it down into smaller portions if I need to, to avoid feeling frantic. Then I go to my planner and block off the times I need for all the tasks.

I have those in my planner too. I am really good at never filling that section in.

[Deleted]

Mar 19, 2016 22:55:04 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Mar 18, 2016 20:33:21 GMT -5 river said:

Last year, when I was in a new role and feeling pulled in 900 directions, I used an app - 30/30. It allows you to set your own time limits - 20 minutes for answering email, 1 hour for editing a document - as you see fit. It kept me on track since I tend toward avoidance when I'm feeling really overwhelmed at work.

My big problem is that I work in a crisis center. I can't ignore the phone and I can be sent out on a call multiple times in a day.

I have alot of trouble refocusing.

I have trouble refocusing too when I'm feeling overwhelmed and pulled in different directions. I do keep a list going because when my head gets all swirly and I can't remember what I'm supposed to be doing, I can look at the list. I don't necessarily prioritize tasks on the list - sometimes I just write everything down and then tackle whichever one I think I can finish in the time I have at that moment. Checking off completed items gives me a sense of satisfaction and encouragement to keep going. Maybe you can pick one thing to focus on at a time, ignore everything else and see it through (as you are able), and if you get interrupted leave yourself a note about where you left off and what the next step is (maybe a sticky note on the paper).

[Deleted]

Also, it sounds like you truly have too much to do - can you get help at work?

[Deleted]

Mar 21, 2016 13:26:10 GMT -5 @rocknrollfriend said:

Also, it sounds like you truly have too much to do - can you get help at work?

Only when the girls who really don't need any help decide they want to nice.

[icequeen]

Could you talk to your boss and explain your situation? I can understand not wanting to sound like whiner or complainer, but I think you could phrase it in a way that shows you are just concerned that you can't do your job to the best of your ability and would perform better with some delegation, or a set list of priorities from your boss.