Work overwhelm can be intense for anyone. Sensitive people are prone to reaching a high mental charge sooner than others. This is because we process the finer details and complexities of tasks more intensely, a reflection of our sensory processing abilities and habits. While this heightened awareness is a remarkable asset, it can occasionally feel demanding, or overwhelming.
Your keen insight and distinct perspective are invaluable in the work environment. These qualities enable you to turn potential challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. However, it might be useful to learn to prioritize and organize tasks and data, and not necessarily explore the myriad of information our sensory processing abilities afford us, when that data is not required at the moment.
Your deep empathy and perceptiveness are powerful tools in understanding and responding to work situations. They are also a great asset to listen to your own limits so as to avoid further overwhelm.
Recognize the strengths embedded in your sensitivity, take a step back, and go for a walk?
🌲 Like in nature, everything needs time. Nothing and no one is perfect. And that's totally fine.
Pending tasks stress management
If you are in a situation where pending tasks are a stressor, consider the following approach: There are four options for handling a task:
Doing it now,
doing it later,
delegating it,
not doing it at all.
Tasks you can finish in a few minutes, you can do now, after you have taken a breather.
Tasks requiring more time can be scheduled and planned, freeing your mind from them.
Tasks others can do, you can delegate.
Tasks that won't impact anything badly if they are not done, you can ignore.
Once you take care of sorting each task in its category, your mind will be much clearer, and you will be able to move to the next steps swiftly.
Prioritize
You can set yourself personal objectives, tailored to your needs, for instance achieving three tasks a day.
Break It Down
Do you feel anxious or overwhelmed by a task you have to carry out? Divide it into smaller, manageable segments. This approach can make daunting tasks feel more achievable and less stressful. It also allows you to focus on one aspect at a time, reducing sensory and cognitive overload. Segmenting big tasks into small tasks helps managing focus.
Find your flow
Your focused time can benefit from being broken down into fragments. Try implementing the Pomodoro Technique: work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat 3 times, and take a longer break like 30 minutes.
This method helps maintain focus and prevents burnout. You might find another rhythm that works better for you. Experiment, and find your flow!
Honor Your Limits
Clear boundaries between work life and the rest can help you manage your balance. For instance, you might benefit from establishing clear work hours. By dedicating specific times for focused work and ensuring you have periods of rest in between, you are creating a structure to sustain your well-being Defining work times and resting times helps in preventing burnout and supports emotional well-being. You might also set other types of boundaries depending on your line of work. Having a separate phone number for work and friends is one of them.
Seek Support and Guidance
Don’t hesitate to delegate or share tasks when possible and seek guidance from others. Sharing the workload can lighten your burden, and seeking advice can provide new perspectives and solutions, easing the stress of problem-solving alone.
