“Draw boundaries.”
When we say we’re too busy at work, we hear that a lot.
But how do you know WHEN to draw boundaries? How do you know when to decline more work? How do you know when to ask for an extension on an assignment?
When I managed my workload with to-do lists and post-it notes, I didn’t have a clear view of what was on my plate or how it’d all get done.
Trying to get up the confidence to decline work and stand firm behind my boundaries was really hard when I wasn’t entirely sure what my workload was. Could I actually get it done? Would my other work suffer?
When I started breaking down my current workload into bite-size steps and accounting for them, I started to get a much clearer view of what my schedule – and general workload – was.
Of course, those blocks of time would have to shift with my work day often, but they served as a critical indicator for me about how “full” my schedule was.
I could take on more work so long as I could move those blocks around and still hit the deadline.
But if those blocks couldn’t be moved around to a new home before a deadline, the FACT was that I could not take on new work without hurting my commitment to and performance in my other projects.
Does this resonate for you? Getting clear on your actual workload – including all the bite-size steps you must take to make a project a success – will help you gain confidence when it comes to standing up for yourself.
It’s empowering. And that’s why it’s worth the effort.
If you want some of this empowerment, check out my time management program. I’d love to help you get there. ⠀
