What it means to be overwhelmed at work

The professional world is both dynamic and fast-paced. Each day presents new, complex challenges that require immediate action and readjustment. Experience gives employees the tools they need to adapt, but everyone has their limits.

When work is overwhelming, employees may have difficulty staying focused, making them vulnerable to distractions. Some may turn to procrastination as a coping mechanism, which could lead to missed deadlines and lower quality of work. Overwhelmed employees may also suffer from a range of cognitive impairments, including confusion and forgetfulness.

Why employees are overwhelmed by work

The most obvious reason for an employee feeling overwhelmed is having a heavy workload and little time to get it all done. The feeling can increase when multiple projects have the same deadline, or when urgent tasks come up at the last minute. Employees may also feel pressured to agree to meetings and projects they don’t have time for, causing the quality of all work to suffer.

Similarly, a person is more likely to feel overwhelmed by a task if they don’t have the knowledge, tools or support needed to do it properly. Without effective prioritization, there’s no way to determine which projects deserve the most attention. When this happens, employees stretch themselves thin spending hours of time on minor tasks.

What an overwhelmed employee looks like

Employees may not communicate that they’re feeling overwhelmed. Whether this is because they don’t quite know it yet or because they aren’t comfortable letting others know, leaders must be able to recognize when a team member is feeling too much pressure.

Recognizing an overwhelmed employee is the first step in providing your support. Some common signs to look out for include:

• Missing deadlines
• Forgetting about tasks or meetings
• Joking about feeling overwhelmed or stressed
• Working unusually long hours
• Withdrawing from professional relationships
• Repeatedly referencing a heavy workload

How to help overwhelmed employees

Fortunately, there are things you can do to help employees who feel overwhelmed. Here are some strategies that will not only treat the condition but also prevent it from spreading to the rest of your team.

Conduct regular check-ins

Employees who don’t feel supported at work are more prone to feeling overwhelmed. Checking in regularly is a good way to show you’re invested in their success.

Consider scheduling regular check-ins, weekly or bi-weekly. During these meetings, make it a point to ask employees how they’re feeling. Encourage them to express concerns about their workload and present solutions that you may be able to help with.

Keep these meetings one-on-one to create a space where employees can speak freely. Doing so can help show employees that you’re prepared to provide support when they need it. This makes them more likely to come to you when they need guidance, rather than letting their troubles compound into overwhelming pressure.

Help your team prioritize

When tasks pile up and deadlines loom, employees often struggle to manage their time wisely. But in most cases, certain tasks rank higher in importance than others.

Helping your team prioritize the things that matter can redirect their focus to the most pressing items on their to-do list. This eliminates the stress of choosing which tasks to ignore for the time being, which can improve concentration.

In the same vein, make sure employees know what their responsibilities are. Understanding what’s expected from their role gives them the confidence to manage their own time accordingly. Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks elsewhere, or eliminate them entirely if they aren’t serving your team.

Be flexible

It can be hard for employees to ignore personal stressors even when they’re at the office. Making flexibility part of your leadership style can help your team adapt to life’s ups and downs with minimal stress.

Consider making schedules less rigid to give your team more freedom over time management. Working from home a few days per week or starting the workday at a different time can help employees find a system that works for them. Besides increasing individual productivity, this shows your team that you trust them to take full control over their responsibilities.

Recognize employee achievements

A little recognition can go a long way toward boosting job satisfaction. When you notice an employee excelling or persevering despite challenges, take the time to commend them. It can be tempting to save your praise for the next performance review. But awarding it in real-time may just give employees the confidence they need to tackle a tough project.

Feeling overwhelmed at work can cause your team members to question their judgment or abilities. Simply noticing their efforts is often enough to show them that they’re capable of managing the tasks at hand.

Promote healthy work-life balance

When work gets tough, sometimes the best thing to do is take a break. But when the job doesn’t quit after hours, employees often don’t have the chance to give their minds a rest.

When the line between work and personal life vanishes, the professional world can become overpowering. When this happens, employees are more likely to become burned out or anxious over the thought of another day at work.

Prevent work from hindering personal hours by promoting a healthy work-life balance. Discourage employees from working excessive hours and avoid contacting them once they’ve gone home or logged off for the day.

Provide wellness opportunities

Bringing wellness opportunities into the workplace means employees don’t have to wait until they get home to recharge. With countless programs to choose from, you can get creative to find one that works for your team.

For example, consider hosting fitness sessions or having a nutritious lunch catered a few times each week. You could also consider implementing an employee assistance program (EAP). Besides boosting job satisfaction, small initiatives like these can provide a brief respite from the day’s stressors.

Build strong relationships

Support from an employer is one thing, but support from peers is quite another. Employees with positive workplace relationships are less likely to feel overwhelmed by work.

To help employees form better relationships, work to build a healthy, open community for your team. Promote effective communication skills and do what you can to make the environment more inclusive. Brushing up on your conflict management skills can also help relieve tension when it arises.

Listen

Don’t underestimate the power of active listening. When an employee is overwhelmed with work, simply feeling heard can give them the strength to push ahead.

When an overwhelmed employee comes to you, give them your full attention. From there, you can work together to find a solution that’s best for the team.