How you deal with time and a heavy workload depends on many factors.
First of all, are you experiencing it as ‘too much work’ or as
‘too little time’. This determines how you deal with an excessive workload. The
people who experience ‘too much work’ will probably find themselves feeling
heavy, accelerating their work pace, focussing more and more on the task (and
less on the people). Whereas the person who feels having ‘too little time’ will
have a tendency of extending work hours, skipping lunch and practicemulti-tasking.
Secondly, the culture we grew up in determines greatly how we
perceive time: in the global north people dominantly have a linear perception
of time, which explains the importance of planning and task-orientation in many
organisations. However, in many places in the global south the perception of
time is more circular, which explains the flexibility one observes regarding a
planning, and the tendency to multi-task and favour relationships above deadlines.
Thirdly, we think the management style within your organisation
influences on the autonomy of individual staff, to organise work according to
personal preferences – emphasising either on the process or on the results.
Time management is an illusion. It is impossible to manage time!
All we can do is manage ourselves, in relation to the available time and to
what we find important. It means that we have to be very keen on what is
important in our work (and lives), how much time we have for important things.
Mostly though, we need to become aware of our own autopilot when it comes to workload management.
What are your deepest convictions when it comes to time? What role
do you attribute yourself in the workplace? What messages from the past
(family, school, early work environment) still guide you unconsciously, when it
comes to managing your work and communication? How do you make decisions? How do you deal with interruptions and non-planned requests? What currently prevents you from getting your work done in time?
In the heat of the moment, we tend to react to every fly that buzzes by, wasting precious time to things that are not important for our own
results or happiness. When you have a clear idea of what is important in your life and professional role, it is easier to focus on those areas.
Being more aware of those mechanisms can help develop a more proactive attitude towards your own work as well as to the environment.
Remember…. time flies, but you’re the pilot!!
