Overwhelm at Year-End: Ways to Help You Through It
"I am depleted."
"I am barely getting six hours of sleep at night."
"I am so buried I don't think I'll ever come up for air, at least not this year."
If the above phrases sound familiar, you are not alone. Year-end brings with it increased deadline pressure, holiday travel and preparation, and endless checklists. About 80 days remain in 2024. Take some time now to assess your level of overwhelm. Some signs it may be present include:
Your calendar has too many appointments, both on weekdays and weekends.
Your time feels like it is controlled by everyone but you.
You are wishing for it to be January, March, or June of next year when things will not be as hectic.
You rush from meeting to meeting, from event to event, and feel as though you are not fully present at any of them.
You cannot remember the last time you ate lunch somewhere other than your desk.
Pause for a moment after reading that list. Awareness is the first step. Next, you can decide if you want to do something about it. This is key. You may be ok with the bustle and pace of your life. If you are not, here are some strategies to get started:
Accept that you cannot (and likely should not) do it all. Take a deep breath, remind yourself that you are human, and read on.
Identify your wellbeing non-negotiables. Examples include: 8 hours of sleep a night, 3 workouts a week, dinner with family 5 nights a week. Aim for these 90% of the time. Things come up; perfection is not the goal. Making this list is the first step to recognizing what is most important to you right now.
Review your calendar between now and the end of 2024. Separate the must dos from the optional to dos. Everything is not a must do. I promise.
Determine who can help with optional items. Is there a direct report that can grow by taking a meeting? Is there a weekend event that you can skip this year? To stay on track, go back to your non-negotiables list to remember why you're doing this. Delegation leads to growth, both yours and those who help you.
Schedule your time off for the remainder of 2024. If calendar management is challenging now, wait until the holidays arrive. Set an example for your team and schedule time off. Encourage direct reports to do the same, and proactively determine the backup protocols for the group.
Taking time now to prioritize the rest of 2024 will help. It will not completely eradicate feelings of overwhelm, yet it can bring the level of stress down several notches.
Dr. Katie Stone is the founder of Together Evolving. Email Katie at katie.stone@togetherevolving.com to learn more about the transformational impact coaching has on you and your leadership.