Speak Up / Speaking Out

Letters to Kool Kanya: Overworked at work!

. 2 min read . Written by Team Kool Kanya
Letters to Kool Kanya: Overworked at work!

"I feel so overworked at work, and I can’t seem to catch a break!”

Dear Kool Kanya,

I’ve been feeling extremely overworked in the office lately. Every morning, I walk into work only to feel dread in the pit of my stomach.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my work and I enjoy doing what I do. But my workload is overpowering me. All the work keeps adding up, and I don’t have enough energy or time in my lot to get it all done. Meeting deadlines – something which used to drive my workflow – has taken the form of an insurmountable obstacle.

I am truly unable to figure out how to get out of this rut, and overcome this negative feeling. I feel exhausted all the time.

What should I do?

Love, Overworked At Work

Hello Overworked,

Kool Kanya understands your issue (and how!).

Being a part of an office can be very stimulating, but at times we end up taking or receiving a heavier workload than we are prepared to handle.

The first step to resolving your problem is to get organised. And we don’t just mean in terms of how you are handling your workload, but with regard to what your job description is to begin with. Make a list of every task, small or big, that you do on a daily basis, and compare it to your job description.

Now, while it is a good idea to be cross-functional and adapt your role to the requirements of the projects at hand; it is definitely not good to feel overtaxed by the work you do.

With your list of work tasks in hand, approach your HR or immediate superior and discuss your concerns with them.

Don’t be afraid of being upfront. It is best not to hum and haw about your concerns. Assume your most confident persona, and be completely honest about what you can and cannot handle. As an employee, you have no obligation to keep taking on new responsibilities just because you have signed a contract. You have every right to assert your issues, and negotiate work tasks such that you don’t end up feeling like you’re lying exhausted under a pile of half-finished tasks!

If you are in a management position of any sort, it is extremely important to learn how to delegate. Taking all the workload on your shoulders is the best way to lose track of your responsibilities, which can make a huge difference in how you are viewed as a leader within the work environment. It can also add a lot of unnecessary pressure.

Whether you are an employee or an employer, being overworked can hugely impact your mental health negatively.

It is best to tackle that feeling of being overworked at the get-go instead of waiting until the inevitable burnout.

Take care, and we hope your workload gets lighter, and so does its impact on your mindspace!

Let’s raise our power together!

Love, Kool Kanya