8 Creative Solutions For How Not To Get Overwhelmed At Work

When you’re swamped at work, it’s easy to get into overwhelm, but it’s not easy to find a way out if you’re feelings are getting the best of you. Solutions don’t come from a place of panic. Some would advise using logic, a list or pros and cons, or deadline-driven priorities. But that’s just using the same methodology that got you into this mess. Solutions can’t be found using the same mindset as the one who created the problem. It’s time to add creativity to the mix. Here are 8 creative solutions for how not to get overwhelmed at work:

Take a break. 

The very first thing I do if I’m overwhelmed for any reason is take a walk. I also do a walking meditation that takes me out of the situation and into another zone. It not only relaxes me, it gives me fresh ideas and inspiration. It frees my mind to explore possibilities. If you believe you can’t leave your desk, do it anyway. Even five minutes or deep breathing will make a difference. Explain why you need a break, and then show your department that resting for a short period works with the excellence you produce.

An example: I worked for a non-profit in which emergency response was critical. It responded to disaster and war. If I got up in the wee hours to write a crisis communication, I made sure I didn’t do it for more than a week without leaving a bit early to get enough rest on Day 8. Exhaustion equals mistakes. Rest equals excellent, rapid work. Even if you don’t work for a crisis-driven organization, make sure you’re getting seven hours of sleep a night and eating three nutritious meals a day.  Bring your work ethic into your home, so it becomes your personal ethic.

Get perspective.

Center yourself. That doesn’t mean ground or balance. It means sitting and finding who you are, inside. The you who doesn’t have a pile of work to finish, the you that has your own goals. Imagine your desk is a place. Where are you in this place? How do you feel about this place? Where would rather be, if anywhere? Imagine you go to this place. Imagine you are part of this new location. How does it make you feel? How can you get there from here, figuratively? You’ll be amazed what a short visualization like this will do for your work output and your well being.

Make sure your priorities are real. 

This kind of visualization will help you answer big picture questions about what your priorities are. Some may align with your boss’, others might not. You may not be able to realize many of these new priorities now, but try to add one of your priorities to your work week to see if that changes your perspective and eases your overwhelm.

Often we’re overwhelmed when we’re not factoring in our own needs, let alone our own self-worth. Most of us work for more than an income. What are you working toward? Deadlines are not priorities. Do your deadlines match your priorities? Do your priorities match the business’ mission and your goals? If not, think about having a talk with your boss (after any urgent deadlines pass). If you make the appointment now, it will already allow you feel more empowered. Then visualize your talk going well. A good boss will crave feedback and satisfied employees (who are also productive).

Enlist assistance. 

So few of us ask for help. Think outside of the box. Who can help you with the least amount of time training them? Are there simple tasks you can give them? Can someone help you now with your commitment to help them when they’re in the same boat?

Brainstorm. 

If you still don’t know which way is up, consider collaborating with someone who doesn’t supervise you. Someone outside of your department is even better. They’ll add a fresh eye and ear to the situation and will probably offer some solutions you haven’t begun to arrive at. Make sure you take notes or draw a mind map during this discussion. Add any other ideas that come to you in private. Ask the Universe for some new ideas, and then record your dreams. Then take all of these ingredients and investigate the connections. You may have a new solution to the daily grind or to-do list.

Admit you’re vulnerable.

But don’t be whiny. Instead ask questions of those who can answer them. These people can be people that have more experience in your office than you,  people in another industry, or people who are your elders in life. Too many people fail because they don’t ask questions, because they want to pretend they know everything. Because they believe that not knowing everything under the sun will make them look weak or inexperienced. The opposite is true. So start asking questions.

Stop saying yes.

That is, until your workload lessens. If you can’t meet a current deadline, how is taking on another project going to help? Then you’ve got two deadlines you can’t meet. Be honest with your supervisor, and if s/he tells you that you must do it, ask him or her to tell you what their priority is, because you can’t meet both deadlines. Or have your boss extend the deadline. Or assign someone else to work on the project with you. Just make sure you are working all the hours–yes working, not eating, surfing the web, or worrying–that your company expects you to.

Act like a boss.

Do you think your CEO got where she is by doing everything all by herself? Nope. If a CEO is overwhelmed, they come up with ways not to be, doing exactly what’s outlined above. They enlist help, they meet with others for new ideas, they delegate, and they remain calm in crisis and during waves of work. If you act like a boss, you’ll be noticed, and a promotion may just be the next email you open. “Instead of showing up unannounced and saying, ‘Hi, I’m drowning in work, help,’ take a moment to think through some potential solutions with an attitude of fixing the problem,” suggests theeverygirl.com. That’s what a boss would do. And if you follow the first 7 suggestions, you’re on your way to a promotion.

Here’s my little secret, perhaps the secret to my success.

I want you to have it, too. Shhhhh! All work is creative. The sooner we all realize this, the sooner we’ll have a more productive workforce. Tech companies understand this. I hope the rest of the business world catches up. We need time to arrive at innovative solutions, and to arrive at such, we need to relax. We need time to strategize, and we need to have time to ourselves to dream. In other words, humans earn more when they can imagine more. If your boss doesn’t think it’s necessary, you can show him the research Alex Soojung Kim cited in his book Rest.

I’m happy to share other tips with you and would love to know how you get over work overwhelm. I’m happy to chat with you about creativity and work, or help you master your overwhelm. Leave your ideas below. You can also reach me at kathy@groundonecoaching.com.

Kathy is an award-winning journalist, novelist, humanitarian, and master intuitive creativity coach. You can also read her work on amazon or at shoresofoursouls.com. Find more about how she can help you overcome overwhelm here.