Watch yourself
Constant overwork can creep up on you. Use data to help you keep track.
It’s surprisingly easy to end up overworked without realising it. It can creep up on you: before you know it you’re feeling drained and unproductive, despite the fact you’re constantly working. Make sure it hasn’t happened to you by working through these questions.
- How many hours are you working each week, on average?
- How long is your task / to0-do list, on average?
- How often are you missing deadlines?
- What percentage of your working week is spent in meetings?
- How long does it take you to reply to an email, on average?
Not all of these questions have right or wrong answers - the specifics will depend on your role. But if you find that the answers are getting bigger - more work, more time in meetings, longer to-do lists, more missed deadlines, longer email response times - then you need to take action.
When to take this action
This action is from 'You're not superhuman' and should be used when you're under pressure, when your team is under pressure
Need something else?
personal-development
Suck it up, fix it, or quit
If you're constantly overworked then you have three options.
one-to-ones
Share the load
Remember to delegate. See how your team can help you work more effectively.
with-your-boss
Help them help you
Overworked? Don't just moan, help your boss prioritise your workload.