In today’s fast-paced world, managing overload is a critical aspect of maintaining good health and workplace wellbeing. The financial impact of workplace stress and employee overload can be significant, negatively affecting a company’s bottom line. This is seen not only in reduced productivity but also in hidden costs such as increased absenteeism and higher employee turnover.
The constant demands and pressures of modern life can take a toll on our physical and mental health. However, by taking a proactive approach to implementing preventative strategies, we can better equip ourselves to handle overload and create a healthier, more productive work environment.
What is Overload?
For professionals or Executives, overload refers to the state where you might feel overwhelmed by a combination of work-related tasks, responsibilities, and demands, often to the extent that it becomes challenging to manage effectively.
Overload can manifest in various ways, from excessive amounts of decisions, tasks, responsibilities … the list goes on. Executives often hesitate to admit they are overloaded, fearing it may jeopardise their job security or undermine their position at work. This behaviour fosters a culture where individuals silently endure these excessive demands, further fueled by factors such as burnout, stress, and isolation experienced in their roles.
Overload is Different From Stress
Managing overload is a lot like dealing with stress – you need to be strategic and consciously regulate yourself. We have previously written about how stress is a stimulant that you can take advantage of instead of silencing it. The difference between taking advantage of stress and managing overload is that stress is mainly dealt with internally since it is a state of being. On the other hand, overload is the force of external factors (stressors) driving us to operate at or above our capacity. So, in this case, it’s the external factors that need to be dealt with, not an internal emotional state of being. Overload can lead to stress, but they are not the same.
What Causes Work-Related Stress?
Work-related stress can arise from various factors in the workplace, creating a cycle of pressure that often impacts employee health and wellbeing. Below are some of the key causes:
1. Work Overload:
- In many cases, executives and employees alike can face work overload due to high demands and fear of job security, leading to silent suffering and increased stress.
- Too many responsibilities, unrealistic deadlines, or long hours often lead to stress overload.
- Juggling too many competing tasks leading to poor time management, as a result of feeling overwhelmed.
2. Work Environment:
- Stress can often stem from a lack of necessary resources, unclear expectations, or constant interruptions, such as phone calls or direct messages.
- Remote workers often struggle with blurred lines between personal and professional life, making it more difficult to set boundaries and maintain focus.
3. Hustle Culture and Employee Overload:
- The pressure to prioritise productivity over wellbeing at work exacerbates stress.
- This often leads to decreased productivity and an inability to deliver high-quality work due to feeling overwhelmed.
4. Poor Communication and Lack of Social Support:
- Limited dialogue and support from co-workers can heighten job stress and make executives and high-level employees feel isolated.
- Without actionable steps to address concerns, mental health conditions like anxiety or more general burnout could develop.
5. Absence of Leisure Time:
- Excessive working hours and relentless demands reduce leisure time, leading to physical health deterioration and emerging mental health concerns.
Recognising these causes is essential for addressing workplace stress and creating a healthier work environment.
Symptoms of Work Overload: What happens if your body is under stress for too long?
Prolonged work overload can take a serious toll on both your physical and mental health. This can trigger a range of symptoms that impact your professional and personal life.
Common signs include sleep disturbances, prolonged fatigue, and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. As the body struggles to cope with this overload of stress, you might experience physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and irritability. If left unmanaged, this can lead to an elevated risk of developing chronic health conditions like heart disease if overtime. Mental health concerns like anxiety or burnout can also develop quickly, affecting your ability to make decisions or focus on tasks. Recognising the warning signs early is key to preventing long-term negative effects and breaking free from the cycle of work-related stress.
An Analogy for Managing Work Overload: Rubber and Glass Juggling Balls
Imagine you have a collection of rubber balls and glass balls. These represent the tasks that you are “juggling”. The rubber balls represent tasks that, if dropped or temporarily set aside, will bounce back and can be easily recovered. These tasks are generally less critical or urgent, and delaying them won’t have severe consequences. On the other hand, the glass balls represent tasks that are fragile and important. If you drop or neglect these tasks, they might break, leading to significant consequences. These tasks are typically more time-sensitive, critical to achieving key goals, or have higher stakes.
This metaphor can assist us in managing workload. It’s crucial to distinguish between tasks that are resilient (rubber balls) and those that are fragile (glass balls).
We need to be strategic in how we allocate our time and energy, focusing on tasks with the greatest impact while maintaining flexibility with less critical responsibilities. It’s important to remember that managing workload isn’t a quick fix. It’s an everyday practice that requires ongoing attention and effort to create a supportive work environment.
3 Easy Strategies for How to Manage Workplace Stress
When we manage overload effectively, we can more easily enter a flow state at work. Below are some strategies that we can use to deal with the stressors that can overload us to the point of fatigue.
1. Manage time and prioritisation.
Like the rubber and glass juggling ball metaphor discussed above, there are other techniques that can be used. Tools like the Eisenhower Matrix and the Pomodoro technique can help us to prioritise and allocate time effectively.
2. Recognise the signs of overload.
This is typically indicated by feelings of stress when the overload starts to affect us. These can include heightened levels of anxiety, a shorter temper, and difficulties concentrating. It takes self-awareness and self-regulation to notice and deal with these.
3. Set boundaries.
Identify where work might be overstepping, taking extra time, or affecting connections with others. Ensure that you designate time for family, friends, and leisure. To show up to work effectively, it is essential that you give yourself permission to relax.
Taking allocated annual leave and time off work is important to maintaining our wellbeing. When employers support the use of annual leave, it also reflects a positive organisational culture, which supports employees’ wellbeing. For more information, Harvard Business Review has a great step by step guide to setting boundaries.
Step Towards Better Workplace Wellbeing With Ford Health
If you want to learn more about Ford Health‘s Workplace Health programs to manage overload and deal with stress, contact our friendly team today! Our experienced health professionals are here to provide actionable steps and resources tailored to your unique needs, helping you build resilience in your team and create a healthier work environment.
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