When you have too much going on, it can be hard to gain perspective on where you should invest your time. Too much to do and not enough time to do it in causes a lack of clarity, direction, and focus. Having too much going on creates confusion about your priorities.
When you have too much going on in the present, it can be tough to see a clear way through. Having too much to do leads to overwhelm and distraction.
When you have too much to do, it’s easy to feel stuck, bogged down, and frustrated. Now, we all feel like we have too much going on for many reasons.
So, what can you do when you have too much to do? You can start by identifying the causes. You may feel like you have too much going on because you’re putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.
Having too much to do is caused by overcommitting and not feeling in control. Too much to do can cause stress, anxiety, and overthinking.
If you have too much to do right now, this article shares five ways to deal when you have too much going on.
5 Ways to Deal When You Have Too Much Going On
Here are 5 ways to deal when you have too much to do.
1. Clarify your goals
When you have too much to do and not enough time, it’s essential to reconnect with your goals. Clarifying your goals will help you get clear on your biggest priorities, so you can stop having too much to do.
Having better goals will help you get clear on the activities only you can do. Most people spend way too much time doing too many things. Improved goal setting will transform your feeling of having too much to do this week into a simplified, productive to-do list.
Read also: Goal setting: how to set and achieve your goals
2. Get your priorities right
When there are too many priorities to focus on, it’s easy to feel you have too much going on. To stop having too much to do each day it’s important to get your priorities right.
Having a long to-do list can make you feel overwhelmed and unfocused. Instead, build up a small list of priorities for the day. If you’re going to focus on something, make sure it’s a priority that helps you move closer towards your goals.
Read also: How to prioritise and stay focused
3. Decide how much to do each day
It’s important to understand how much your time is worth so you can use your time to make productive progress each day. When you have too much going on, decide how much to do each day with that time.
Rather than doing too much, work smarter, not harder. Take on fewer tasks and focus on doing your most important work. If you have too much going on, start simplifying.
When you feel you’re doing too much, reduce your priorities to just three important things each day. You’ll feel clear, less stressed, and more in control.
Read also: 6 tips for successful daily planning
4. Get into action
Having too much going on can lead to inaction. To overcome having too much to do it’s essential to get into action.
Pick one of your priorities and schedule it into your calendar. Set aside everything else for now. Block out time to work on it and get to work. Getting into action builds confidence and momentum.
Being present in the moment on an important task increases your intentionality. Getting into action gives you a clear focus and can eliminate the feeling of having too much going on.
Read also: 6 tips to plan your week effectively
5. Have breaks during the day
Having too much to do, and wanting to get everything done as soon as possible, leads to exhaustion and feeling tired all the time. When you feel tired, you aren’t as productive as you could be.
When you have too much to do, take breaks during the day. Taking breaks between tasks will boost your energy, productivity, and focus. Having a break will refresh your mind and give you a greater perspective on your most important work.
Summing up
We all have too much to do from time to time. If you feel like you’re doing too much, it’s time to get some perspective on where you want to focus your time and energy.
When you have too much to do, get clarity on your goals, identify your priorities and be intentional about your time. Hopefully, these tips will help.
Now I’d love to hear from you
What do you do when you have too much to do and a lack of time to do it in?
Let me know in the comments.
Further reading
5 ways to overcome procrastination
8 time management tips to manage time effectively
7 actions to take when you feel stuck
7 simple tips to overcome distractions
About the Author
Mark Pettit is a time management coach based in Colchester, Essex, UK. He is the Founder of time management coaching company Lucemi Consulting. Mark provides time management coaching programs to entrepreneurs and business owners in London, Essex, Suffolk, and across the UK and US.
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