by Louise Wood

If work is getting too much and you can’t seem to get through a month without getting stressed, you may need help with getting to grips with your workload. Stay ahead of the game with these tips to ensure you can keep motivated and stress-free in the office.

Make a list

Firstly, a way to deal with your mounting workload is to write down everything you need to do. This includes subtasks, research, and meetings. From this, you’ll be able to see clearly what is expected of you. It’s a good idea to map out how long these tasks are going to take, which can help you see the bigger picture and if you’ll actually meet the set deadlines. Not only this, you’ll be able to prioritize tasks and point out any deadlines or targets that aren’t realistic and be able to have a conversation about those. 

Plan out your day

Think about when you’re most productive. If this is in the morning, book the more challenging work for then and allow yourself to ease up with the less demanding tasks as the day continues. Or vice versa if you’re the sort of person who builds up a head of steam throughout the day. Be kind to yourself, take deep breaths and complete tasks one at a time. Rushing will only mean that you do your work less effectively. Take control to stay within the time limits you’ve created.

Use helpful tools

If you keep finding that tasks are taking you too long to complete, there might be a way around it. Technology has come on leaps and bounds over the years and can be used to aid productivity. Invest some time in researching tools to see if you can benefit from using them. There are great collaboration and communication tools you can use to store information and contact relevant stakeholders quickly. There are also more practical advances in technology,  from payroll services to printing out deposit slips and handling time-consuming paperwork tasks. Spend some time analyzing the tools that will work for you and your workplace. 

Ask for support

It’s important to acknowledge your limits when it comes to working. You’re not a robot and you’re worth more than being treated like one. Sometimes, the reason tasks are taking longer than they should is because you may not have been trained on certain systems or you may not have all the knowledge you need to proceed with a project. This is ok and it’s ok to ask for more training. In fact, this is you taking control of your career progression, which managers will appreciate. 

If, however, your tasks are just pilling on top of each other and you still can’t see the bottom of the pile, you need to speak to your manager. This is why planning your workload is a great tool as you have a clear picture to present your challenges. You’re being productive, clear and taking control of the situation for a better resolution.

Get motivated

Negativity is the key to failure and positivity is the key to success. You need to harness positivity to stay motivated to achieve your personal or career goals and find the things that make you feel positive about your work. There was a reason you were hired over someone else and it’s important to remember this and have faith in your abilities.

You also need to remember why you got into the career you’re in. If you can’t find at least three reasons, why are you putting yourself through the stress?

You should work somewhere you love and sometimes a change of scenery could be the thing you need to restart your passion – and rid yourself of unnecessary stress. Check out this podcast on how to unlock your value to stay motivated and build momentum for success.

 Photo: Pexels

Do you ever feel like you’re way too stressed out to get any work done? What are your tips for reducing stress? Let us know in the comments below!

For more content on making your work day a bit easier:

• Stress management techniques
• 6 Tips on how to reduce stress at work
• Eight caffeine-free workplace energizers to beat mid-day drowsiness at work
• Occupational burnout: We all have it. Now what do we do?
• Boosting your emotional agility can make you happier at work
• Infographic: How to boost productivity with nine daily rituals