The Weight of "Too Much": Reclaiming Your Joyful Career
Let's ditch the overwhelm and rediscover the joy in your work
In our fast-paced world, it's so easy to feel like we're juggling a million tasks, isn't it?
The pressure to achieve more, be more, and do more can become downright overwhelming.
Orison Swett Marden, an American inspirational author, offers us a stark but essential warning:
“The constant reminder of ‘a million things to do and no time to do them’ can worry you not only into tension and fatigue, but also into high blood pressure, heart trouble, and stomach ulcers.”
—Orison Swett Marden
This powerful quote shines a light on the serious consequences of chronic stress and the absolute necessity of prioritizing our well-being in our (often-demanding) careers.
The Heavy Toll of the "Too Much" Mindset
Marden's words speak to a reality that many professionals face.
It's that constant feeling of being overwhelmed, which can lead to chronic stress, taking a serious toll on our mental and physical health.
Marden reminds us that this stress can show up in physical ways: tension, fatigue, high blood pressure, heart trouble, even stomach ulcers. And let's not forget burnout, that state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.
Ironically, the "too much" mindset actually decreases our productivity and effectiveness. When we're stressed, we're less focused, creative, and efficient, and we can't shine our brightest.
Let's Reclaim Your Well-being Together!
Marden's quote is a wake-up call, urging us to step back and make our well-being a priority.
Here are some strategies to help us navigate that "too much" mindset:
Prioritize, prioritize: Let's learn to focus on what truly matters. Not everything needs to be done at once, my sweet friend. And more on that in a moment…
Time mastery: We can further develop or refine our time management skills to create structure and a sense of direction in our workday. Time blocking helps with execution and focus while ensuring you have dedicated time to deliver.
Ask for help and delegate with love: It's okay to ask for help! You don't have to carry the entire weight on your shoulders. This is a good time to ask your direct manager for support in either prioritizing your workload or seeing what can wait.
A word track I used that worked really well: “Manager, I need your support and guidance on my current workload. Based on what you need from me, what should I prioritize first, and what can wait until possibly next week?” This also opens the conversation for you to understand what is heavy on their plate and help you anticipate upcoming needs, too!
If you're a manager and your direct report comes to you, asking for help, this is an excellent opportunity to share this word track: “Direct Report, let me first commend you for raising your hand and asking for help. This helps all of us succeed. Can you walk through your current workload so we can possibly prioritize it and get you back into the game with an updated game plan?” This is also a good time to check in with those you’ll delegate their work to (if needed). A great word track for them is: “I want to support some increased workloads amongst the team, so if you have a few minutes, I’d love to walk through what you’ve got on your plate so I can possibly empower you with more focused work we need to get across the finish line (and possibly a little less plate-spinning this week)!” I never had a Direct Report become flustered or upset in offering this. It normally accompanied a sigh of relief.
Set those boundaries: Create clear lines between work and personal time so that you have enough energy and time to do what’s most needed of you. Disconnecting and recharging are essential.
Self-care is a must: Prioritize activities that help manage stress and reconnect with ourselves: exercise, meditation, time with loved ones, anything that fills your cup. We often (especially when it gets busy) put self-care on the back burner. But this is when we truly need it most.
Mindfulness moments: Practice staying present and focused, reducing worry, and embracing the beauty of now. This can look like taking a few minutes to sit at your desk and take deep, cleansing breaths. It can also be getting up and away from your desk, going for a brisk walk, or even a ‘lap’ around the office (or kitchen)!
A Journey to Sustainable Success
Orison Swett Marden's wisdom reminds us that true success isn't about sacrificing our health and happiness.
This is so important. I’d encourage you to read that once more.👆
Instead, it’s about creating a sustainable approach to our careers, where we can thrive both professionally and personally. I know many use the term “work-life balance”; instead, I prefer “work-life harmony”, as true “balance” might look different by day, by project, by assignment, or based on our individual schedules or energy levels. Some of us may enjoy “working” more, or have more demanding careers with “bursts” of our attention required.
“Work-life harmony” can look different for everyone. If you need to, take a few moments to contemplate:
What does “work-life harmony” mean to me?
How do I know my professional and personal worlds are in ‘harmony’? How do I know they are not?
What might help me better achieve the ‘harmony’ I seek?
Where can I ask for help or support?
What things can I put in place to create the structures (time, energy, routines) to support my ‘work-life harmony’?
By recognizing the dangers of the "too much" mindset and prioritizing our well-being, we can create a more harmonious, fulfilling, and joyful career journey.
Remember, my friend: you are here to 'illuminate pathways of choice'. You deserve a career that lights you up, not one that weighs you down.
As you continue your career journey, let this quote be your guiding light. May it empower you to prioritize your well-being, manage stress with grace, and create a career that supports a healthy and fulfilling life.
Namaste,
💜 Lavender
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