Last week we had a look at three tell-tale signs that you are working too hard.

While being hard-working is a great character trait, working too hard can have a detrimental effect on your health. For instance, people who work more than 10 hours a day are at risk of developing diabetes, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure, just to name a few!

So if you realised you are working too hard, what can you do about it?

1. Have a look at your time-management          

Sometimes we have too much on our plate, but most of the time I think it comes down to more of a time-management issue. If you are not getting through all your work in your allotted working hours, perhaps it’s worthwhile looking into how well you manage your time. Start by writing down what you do in each hour of each day. This will help you to see what is stealing your time. Checking emails every five minutes? Try instead to check them in the morning and afternoon only. Prioritise what needs to be done now, what needs to be done by the end of the day, and what can be done tomorrow.

2. Make delegation your friend

We often feel like we have to get the job done at any cost and you may feel that because your boss has asked you to do it, that only you can do it. That may not be the case. Your boss may have given it to you because you are trustworthy and they are confident you will do it right, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do the whole thing yourself. Perhaps you could enlist the help of another employee? Show them the ropes and then check in with them. Make sure you are satisfied before presenting it to your boss and who knows, you might just impress them with your ability to work with others and raise up people in your organisation.

3. Don’t be afraid to have an honest conversation

If your time-management is on point and you have tried delegating and you still feel like you are drowning  in your workload, don’t be afraid to have an honest conversation with your boss. They may have no idea how you are feeling and they would much rather shift some things around than have you burn out. Come ready with a couple of solutions though – nobody likes a whiner!

When I feel overwhelmed and don’t know which way to go, I am grateful that I take these things to God in prayer. If you would like to know more about how you can have your own relationship with Him, click on the link below or on the pop up, we would love to chat to your more.