One of the things I hear most often these days is; I can't manage my time, I make a lot of commitments to a lot of people every day, and I lose track of time trying to complete them. It's already evening, and there are days when I even forget to have lunch... If you are also suffering from this, I suggest you read my correspondence with someone who has a similar problem below.
Dear Ms. Bahar,I continue to work from home due to the ongoing pandemic. I don't know what words to use to describe my situation better, but I am overwhelmed, I have too much to do!!! and not enough time to do it all!!! Quarantine, kids at home, clients canceling some work, 10 to 15 new projects on top of the work I already have... My list goes on and on. I wish I could declare bankruptcy and get away from everything, just like business owners who declare bankruptcy . Is there any way you can suggest me?
Yours sincerely,
A Bankrupt
Hello. Bankrupt,
I am very sorry you are going through all this and I understand you. I don't know anyone whose "To Do List" has been shortened as a result of the events that are unfolding these days. The truth is that there is no other way but to "live through it all".
But I have some good news for you. If you follow my advice, the next time the rough waves of life come crashing in, you will know how to handle it. In my 30 years in business, working with hundreds of professionals, I've realized that when it comes to having control over your life, it's less about how much work you have or how much time you have or don't have in a day, and more about what your habits are. So that means that even if you have a lot of work, even if you have little time, you can handle it.
Start by taking an inventory of EVERY commitment you have made. If you do just this one thing, you will naturally take on board most of my other suggestions. Many people complain to me about how overwhelmed they are with their work. When I ask them what overwhelms them, they can't say exactly. They can only say the weight on their shoulders and this painful feeling. The problem is that if you cannot identify what is overwhelming you, you cannot do anything about it.
Once you have done this, determine the following for each task:
Once this is clear, clarify each item further by asking yourself the question: "What is the next step I need to take to move forward on this?" Not all the actions you might need to take, just your next action. Try to identify the next smallest action.
As you master this over time, you will better realize what you can do from the beginning. Until that happens, in the short term, you may need to go back and renegotiate or turn down commitments from time to time. In the long run, as I said, you will be better at accepting or rejecting requests from the beginning.
None of us can survive the pandemic without having these conversations and making these adjustments. This reminds me of a situation that happened to me. Early in my career, as an auditor working for audit firms, I was traveling a lot. My mother was taking care of my son while I was away. Before a week of very busy and important meetings and a 3-day trip, my mother called me and told me that she could not come that week due to my father's illness.
That night, after putting my child to bed, I sat down and simply said, "These are my constraints, this is my time for the whole week. Realistically, I asked myself which of the following I could do, which I should reject, and which I should renegotiate." I then took a few hours to make these decisions and make a plan to implement them.
Yes, people will be disappointed that you can't get things done, and that's difficult for both sides. But that's a natural consequence of doing as much as you CAN. This is a result of focus.
Love,
Bahar Sen
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