What do you do if your internship responsibilities and expectations are overwhelming?

I worked with a graphic design intern who was tasked with creating mockups for a new client campaign, assisting with social media graphics for several ongoing projects, and finalizing revisions for a logo proposal. Deadlines were approaching, and she was unsure where to start. Even if we were using Jira, she was overwhelmed with the process. So we asked her to list all the tasks and color-code the deadlines (red for urgent, yellow for upcoming) to add a visual cue for prioritizing. She was encouraged to discuss the project priorities with her supervisor and to find which specific deliverables were crucial. We help her break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to make the workload feel less overwhelming.

I always discuss the importance of seeking guidance with my clients for career coaching sessions. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of proactiveness and a desire to learn. Supervisors appreciate interns who take the initiative to address challenges. Before seeking help, take some initiative to troubleshoot the issue yourself. Review relevant documentation, online resources, or past projects to see if you can find a solution. Set up a quick meeting to discuss your specific roadblock. Clearly explain the task you're working on and the challenge you're facing. Take clear notes to reference later.

Don't waste your supervisor's or your time by asking irrelevant questions, and importantly, don't just ask for the answer. Pose open-ended questions like "What approach would you recommend?" or "Can you walk me through a similar situation you've encountered?" This encourages learning and helps you develop problem-solving skills.

5 tips para ayudarte a no sentirte abrumado en tu internship: 1. Ten total claridad sobre tu rol y responsabilidades. Si no lo tienes claro, indaga con tu líder. Esto te ayuda a identificar el alcance de tu trabajo. 2. Tienes claro cómo va a ser medido tu trabajo? si hay KPIs específicos para evaluar tu desempe?o puedes definir prioridades de forma acertada. 3. Identifica personas que son expertos en tu área o tienen varios a?os en la compa?ía y pueden ayudarte o ser tus mentores. 4. No se espera que lo sepas todo. Evita cometer errores por no preguntar. Resuelve todas tus dudas. 5. Se empático contigo. Estás en un proceso de aprendizaje, permítete equivocarte. No tienes que ser perfecto, nadie lo es.

In my experience, working in a fast-paced environment as an intern while studying simultaneously, this is what I have done, and you can also do: Recognize and Acknowledge Overwhelm: It’s important to acknowledge that you’re feeling overwhelmed. This is the first step toward addressing the issue. Accept the Feeling: Accepting that you’re overwhelmed is essential. It’s a normal response and doesn’t reflect your capabilities. Self-Care: Prioritize your physical and mental well-being through exercise, mindfulness, and building supportive relationships. Problem Solving Technique: Break down problems into smaller parts, explore potential solutions, and evaluate the pros and cons of each option. Last but not least, ???????? ??????????????