The Number One Trick to Beating Overwhelm Through the End-of-Year Rush

With the end of the year in sight, the demands on your time and energy have no doubt started to increase. The whirlwind of year-end tasks, strategic planning, and mounting deadlines can leave even the most seasoned leader feeling stretched thin. Add in the social functions that fill your lunches, evenings and weekends between home and office and it’s enough to raise overwhelm through the roof. 

I don't know about you but whenever Melbourne Cup hit's here in Australia, the rest of the social calendar tends to very quickly kick into overdrive for the silly season. 

But, what a shame that what should be the season for fun and celebration becomes one of dread and anxiety for many. 

So let me share with you the one key thing that you need to have front of mind in order to beat the overwhelm and finish the year on a high instead. 

Prioritise. Personal. Values.

Let me explain.

Personal values are those things that matter most to you in life. Those things that you live for, that you strive for, that act as your modus-operendi, your way of being. Now, if you’ve ever worked in a corporate office I’m sure you’ve seen some values on a wall or set some team values in a Strategy Meeting more than a handful of times. Did they carry much impact? Depending on where you worked and the culture will depend on the answer to that. In many cases, it’s very true that they’re not worth the paper they’re written on.

But you’ll be familiar with the concept as a result none the less. But have you ever stopped to tune into your own set of values, like really tune into them so that you know they’re meaningful and actually useful to you?

Once you have them razor clear the benefits can come rolling in. If you’re not clear on yours, you can use my discovery tool here to figure them out.

But, how does being razor clear on your personal values help you to beat overwhelm?!

I hear you, I bet knowing your company values never helped to beat overwhelm, so how is this different.

Firstly, look at them as your life priorities.

Consider your values as your life priorities. If you have a value of ‘Family’ then see this as a priority that you need to put ahead of all else. If you have a value of ‘Health’, see this as the thing to put BEFORE everything else. No matter what your top 3-4 are, they need to put ahead of all else.

If you’re thinking that’s easier said than done, I’m glad, because it’s true. At least on face value it is.

So secondly, challenge your thinking.

It’s easy to write these off and protest that you don’t have time and you’re too busy. That’s why you’re reading this after all right! But you have to flip the switch for a moment and consider what the impact to you would be if you DID give time to these values. I’ll give you an example, HEALTH is a top value of mine and there have been many times over the years where I’ve been ‘too busy’ with work and have missed a workout.

The result?

Sometimes poorer quality work, and always a frustrated, resentful, negative mood that likely carries into many other areas of life that day further hindering my work progress and adding to my overwhelm.

A vicious circle we want to avoid.

And it all happens because values are not being met.

So what I learned is that no matter how busy I think I am, the best work will come from me if I take care of the value FIRST. In fact, I’ll often be way quicker and efficient and produce better quality work as a result of not being in a negative headspace. To the contrary I will have cleared my head and boosted my energy.

Lastly, find your values in what you’re already doing.

The to-do list is already too long so adding to it can seem like the last thing you want to do, let’s say you value your FUN and know it should come first but you seriously doubt that you have time. So, get creative with your thinking and reframe the way you see things.

How can you get more of your fun value met by simply working through your to-do list? Can you build some kind of game into it? Can you teach your clever brain just how much fun it can have ONCE it clears the to-do? Can you share a project with the person you enjoy spending time with the most at work?

If FAMILY is a key value, can you get the kids involved in any way in the work you need to do? Can you connect the dots more on how the work you’re doing is showing your kids how to be successful and teaching them great life lessons?

It may not be easy on first glance, but with a little deep and creative thinking there will be a lot of your values that you’re able to find, or bring into the things you need to do. Don’t see them as separate.

Have a go at translating this way of thinking into your world and see what the impact is.

Now of course there is a whole other conversation about task prioritisation, delegation, boundary setting, time management and more that can come into play here once you’ve got your Personal Values in check so if you need help with any of these things reach out.

I’m all about helping leaders to succeed at work without compromising the lifestyle they want, and I know it can be done so I’d be excited to assist you.

In the meantime, remember that the end of the year is immediately followed by another day, just like any other, so don’t get too caught up in the hype.

To your success and your wellbeing.