Reduce Your Schedule Overwhelm

Life can feel overwhelming at times.  Maybe you took on too much or you have unrealistic expectations as to how things should be going.  You might feel behind and that there’s just too much to do.  Perhaps you’re not taking the time to efficiently plan out your day.  All of these things can make you feel drained mentally, emotionally, and physically.  Here is how to reduce your overwhelm when it comes to planning out your day.

Burn Out

Taking on too much work can not only lead to feeling overwhelmed but also cause you to burn out.  When you’re going non-stop, you’re going to hit a wall at some point.  You can’t keep going a million miles an hour forever.  You have to take care of yourself and the first sign of doing too much is that feeling over overwhelm.  Avoid burn out by looking at your list of things to do.  Try and eliminate tasks that are not absolutely crucial to getting done.  Reschedule tasks that don’t need to get completed immediately.  Don’t feel guilty postponing things that can be delayed.  There are only so many hours in the day.  You don’t have to do it all and get it all done all at once.  You’re human!  Say no to any additional tasks since your schedule is already full.  Also, ask for help so that you don’t burn out.

Ask For Help

Sometimes you need simply need to ask for help.  When there is too much on your plate and not enough hours in the day, asking for assistance is nothing to be ashamed of.  You can’t do it all and that’s okay.  Even superheroes need help on occasion.  See if you can delegate some tasks to someone else.  In fact, someone else may be more qualified to complete the task faster and even better than you.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Especially when you’re drowning in work!

Schedule

Be mindful of your schedule and if you’re putting too many things on your to do list each day.  Start by deciding what needs to get done first.  Write down your top must get done task for the day that you commit to accomplishing.  Focus on one thing at a time and make that your priority for the day.  Anything else you accomplish is an extra bonus.  But, don’t overdo it by trying to cram too much into your schedule each day.

Time Block

Next, write down any appointment times.  Create a block of time for this appointment.  Then, work backwards.  Maybe you need drive time, write down when you should leave for the appointment, or the time you need to get ready.  Block out these times in your planner.  Even time block for everyday activities.  Also, make sure to give yourself a little buffer of time.  You might be running late or hit traffic.  There are always unexpected things that come up so don’t overwhelm yourself by maxing out your schedule.  Leave some white space.  Be realistic with what you can accomplish each day.

Your schedule is what’s causing the overwhelm!  Reduce your overwhelm by managing your schedule better.  You might be overestimating how much you can get done in a day.  Reel it in and avoid over scheduling yourself.  Ensure that you’re prioritizing what’s most important each day.  Delegate, ask for help, say no to additional tasks, and move anything else that’s not essential to getting completed that day.  Be cognizant of how much you’re scheduling in your planner and be realistic as to how much you’re actually able to get done.  Use the power of time blocking to visually see what you have planned each day and leave room for white space.  In doing these things, you’ll be able to reduce your schedule overwhelm.