In today’s fast-paced work environment, we can easily find ourselves agreeing to take on more tasks than we can easily manage. We can overcommit ourselves by agreeing to deadlines that aren’t realistic, offering to assist with projects we don’t have the bandwidth for, attending meetings that aren’t relevant to us, and offering to lend a hand because we want to help our team members and company as a whole. If you find yourself exhausted, overwhelmed, and burnt out, it may be time to take a step back and focus on what tasks really matter and break free from overcommitting.
Needing to Prove Ourselves
One of the reasons we overcommit is because we want to prove ourselves and our worth. We think that by helping out with additional projects we can show our capabilities, commitment, and value but if we overcommit and cannot deliver on the promises we made, it can do more harm than good. One way to filter if additional work is worth your time and energy is by asking yourself a set of questions. In an article in Harvard Business Review, they write, “In order to assess which opportunity or task is relevant to your micro-mastery goals, ask yourself these questions before agreeing to anything:
- Assess the relevance and impact on your long-term goals: Does this directly build the skills I want to develop?
- Consider the cost: Will taking this on impact my ability to perform in other areas?
- Does it provide something (visibility, skill building, growth): Will this allow me to showcase my skills to managers or does it allow me to refine/develop a skill?
If the opportunities or tasks aren’t related to what you want to master, use the above skill of “decision delay buffer” to decline. If the opportunities or tasks are related to what you want to master, use the above skills of “preemptive communication” to alert your manager about your interest and to help you re-prioritize if possible.”
Fear of Missing Out
Another common reason people find themselves overcommitting is the fear of missing out on opportunities that could further advance their careers. Some work environments can be very competitive, and while a healthy sense of competition can propel and motivate us, it can also push us to accept more than we can handle. In the same Harvard Business Review article mentioned above, they also write, “We often feel the pressure to say “yes” to every opportunity, believing that missing out on anything could set us back. When you are feeling overwhelmed, it is helpful to remind yourself that by letting an opportunity go and not overcommitting yourself, you’re not failing, you’re being thoughtful about your choices. This allows you to protect your valuable time and energy resources to reserve them for things that truly matter — your emotional wellbeing and professional growth. The truth is: not every opportunity is meant for you, and sometimes missed chances can make space for the right chances.”
Perfectionism and People Pleasing
If you tend to be a “people pleaser” you may easily find yourself overcommitting. Not for furthering your own career advancement, but to make others around you happy and prove that you can handle it all. This can be a tricky situation to find yourself in and after time will lead to resentment and burnout. Think about having clear boundaries and what a healthy work-life balance looks like to you. Set realistic expectations and don’t agree to more than you can handle, being honest with others that while you would love to help out, at the moment you don’t have the bandwidth.