If your list of work tasks is becoming longer and longer – you’re not alone.
Rushing between meetings, new requests coming in daily and a constant ping as emails filter through your inbox can be overwhelming. Managing your schedule is important to ensure you are productive and efficient. It also helps prioritize your work-life balance and mental health. Let’s explore ways to manage your workload, and ensure you prioritise your wellbeing – even during those busy periods at work. But first, it’s important to understand the negative effects of a heavy workload, which can include:
- Increased levels of stress, and increased absenteeism
- Burn-out
- Lack of work-life balance
- Difficulty sleeping
- Increase in mistakes, procrastination or forgetfulness
- Job dissatisfaction
- Unable to meet deadlines or complete tasks to a high quality
- Lack of engagement and connection to colleagues
Managing our time is personal to each of us, and we all have varying levels of capacity at different stages of our life. To reduce the negative impacts of a heavy workload, consider implementing these tips into your routine.
Keep track of your workload: Find what works for you, an old-fashioned spread sheet, reminders in your diary, or even consider utilising software spefifically design to help you track your tasks and projects. Tracking your work means you are less likely to forget important tasks, and you can easily check back to remind yourself how things are progressing.
Prioritise regular breaks: Breaks give us an opportunity to re-set, and rest. Place regular breaks in your diary and commit to taking them, even if it means a five-minute walk outside to get some fresh air. Eating away from your desk is also a great habit to commit to, both your body and mind will thank you for the down time whilst enjoying your lunch or snacks.
Avoid multi-tasking: Divide your time and focus on one task to avoid doing several things simultaneously. Multi-tasking, and not giving your full attention to one task can lead to performing at a lower standard, and working in-effectively.
Prioritise your work: Not everything is a priority, so focus on what is most urgent, or needs immediate attention. You can rate your tasks on a scale of being ‘not urgent’ or ‘unimportant’ for the day (and potentially move the task to later in the week, to ‘Urgent’ and ‘important’, which requires your attention immediately.
Value your Work-Life Balance: It can be hard at times, but even during busy period at work, it’s important to give time and energy to your life outside of work. Continue your regular exercise regime, stay on track with your food intake, socialise with family and friends, and prioritise good sleep hygiene to ensure you set yourself up for success at work and at home.
Block out Distractions: It’s easy to get distracted, but it’s much harder to re-focus after an interruption. Turn off phone notifications, wear noise cancelling headphones, or leave responding to emails until another time if you have a task or project you are trying to complete.
Stay Connected: Connection to others is vital to our mental health and well-being. When we are busy at work, we might pass on opportunities to catchup with colleagues over a coffee or lunch. Prioritize weekly opportunities to spend time with your co-workers. You might also like to consider leaning on your team for support with your workload if they have capacity to help you out.
A heavy workload can be difficult to manage, and you can quickly feel your cup is overflowing. At Diversity Australia, we have experienced coaches to support you through challenging times. If you’d like to line up a time to chat and learn more about our coaching services, please reach out at [email protected]
We hope these tips help you and your colleagues during busy periods at work.
