Sometimes in life, all you need to do is start again. Often, the tasks you set out to complete get overcomplicated because you try to tackle too much at once. This has often been the case for me. I overthink things. I give myself too much work. I become overwhelmed.
Working on multiple projects at once might seem like a productive way to work, as you get the most amount done at once. But it’s also a sure-fire way to burn yourself out. And when you burn yourself and all work stalls to a halt, you’re not just underproductive – you’re not producing anything.
Luckily, life is full of new beginnings. Every January is the beginning of a new year. Every Monday is the start of a new week. Every morning is the beginning of a brand new day.
Beginnings are perfect opportunities to start again. From scratch, if necessary. Sometimes it’s vital to start again in order to freshen up your ideas and face the issue from a different angle.
Recently, I have had to learn this lesson the hard way. After giving myself far too much work and setting myself a multitude of unrealistic deadlines, the pressure built up so much that I was unable to cope. As the days dragged on, I felt demoralised as I watched the list of unmet targets grow bigger and bigger. I felt like a failure.
I wasn’t a failure, of course. I was simply overworked and unorganised. And that can happen to anyone.
Recognition is key. I realised that I was burning myself out due to too much pressure and not enough time. I got to a point where I wasn’t working on anything at all, because I’d started to associate work with frustration.
Now that I’ve gone away from my work and allowed myself this reprieve, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the workload again. I have to remember this lesson, though, so it doesn’t happen again.
If you suffer from writer’s block or feel overwhelmed with your work, consider taking time away from it. Obviously this isn’t always possible, but if it is then try to focus on something else. When you return to the task at hand, you may have new ideas and come up with the answer to solve any issues.
Davey Cobb 