What do you do if your remote work schedule is overwhelming and tasks are piling up?

- Identify which tasks are urgent and important. Focus on completing these first to prevent them from becoming more stressful. - Large tasks can be daunting. Break them down into smaller and manageable steps to make them easier to tackle. - Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day. Setting achievable goals can help reduce feelings of overwhelm. - Consider using techniques like time blocking to manage your time more effectively and stay focused. - Delegate tasks to others to lighten your workload. This can help free up time for more important tasks. Finaly ensure to have a good communication channel with the team to keep them informed of deadlines so that none is missed at any given time.

A variation of the MoSCoW method can help… Think: Must do/Should do/Could do/Wont do. 1. List everything so it stops swirling around your head 2. Categorise each (M-S-C-W) 3. W - Great! Cross it off your list. 4. C - Can you do it in less than two minutes? ? Yes – Highlight it. ? No – Give yourself permission to let it go! Cross it off the list. 5. S - How would you feel making this a Wont’ do instead? If that feels good, do it! ? Do you want to do it? ? Yes - Schedule time to do that soon. ? No – Find someone who does. 6. M - Is it really a must? ? No – recategorise it. ? Yes – Put into your calendar. Take a deep breath! Pick the easiest thing you highlighted and do that, then enjoy crossing it off the list! You’ve got this.

If my remote work is pilling up i do a note down of all I need to cover in a specific period. Then I delegate time to all tasks to be completed, working with time always makes me faster and swift in doing my works

Are these assignments your priorities? Or are others insisting they are your priorities? Years ago, I had several managers who demanded that I do the impossible. They insisted that conflicting priorities should both be accomplished in an unreasonable timeframe. I arranged a call between the three of us to discuss the issue. The framework was simple: They must decide what gets done first. We came to a workable agreement. If you have set priorities for yourself, step away from the fray to look at the bigger picture. What will impact the overall results? Can you simplify your systems? Are you adding steps that may not make a significant difference? Distracting yourself? Take an inner journey. Perhaps a new job?

A tool called "Goldratt WIP Board" can be used to prioritise task. This helps to visualise the entire scope of our deliverables at the level of each task and also give us a quick glance through where we stand at each of those tasks. Then considering the timeline of delivery and status of each, we can easily prioritise them.

Setting boundaries is crucial in any relationship but when working from home it’s incredibly important to set and maintain clear boundaries between work time, personal time and time for other obligations. It can be hard when working from home to resist the pressure, or even the desire, to do “one more thing,“ but soon those things that were done out of generosity become expectations and thus part of the overwhelm. Flexibility is one of the benefits of working remotely so I’m not suggesting it’s best to be rigid or inflexible, but rather to say that if you decide to flex a boundary that you make clear you do so consciously and one instance at a time.

In my experience, setting boundaries is THE key factor, especially for remote / virtual working jobs. It’s seems simple, but it’s not easy. Creating necessary boundaries bring more works into action-mode: from nourishing positive mindset, setting time schedule management, up to creating positive and supportive environment. One thing I’ve found helpful, is the choice of “Focus Mode” in my iPhone that allows me to go deep for challenging works, as well as for my non-negotiable fuel gauge personal activities.

By setting boundaries, and focusing on dealing with work-associated problems during work hours, the life coach will be able to achieve so much. How we spend our time, affects our productivity. By avoiding distractions and putting in sufficient concentration, when handling work-related duties, the life coach will be able to solve so many problems and reduce his workload.

Consistency is key in establishing and maintaining boundaries. As a life coach, you can encourage your clients to explore their values and priorities to establish boundaries that align with their goals. Help them identify specific triggers or situations where boundaries are needed and develop strategies to assertively communicate those boundaries. Encourage self-reflection and offer support as they navigate and implement these changes in their lives. Provide guidance on self-care practices and stress management techniques to help them maintain balance and resilience.

I less often use the word boundaries and more often use the phrase "healthy parameters" by which you can have better communication, relationships and space to do what you need to do and would like to do. Think of your energy like a gas tank. If you're constantly running on fumes then you won't have much to give to your responsibilities, commitments, and every day tasks. When you don't practice healthy parameters, I often say you are training others how to treat you. If you don't make you and what is important to you a priority, it can also affect how you are showing up emotionally and energetically, and others won't respect your time or be cognizant of what you need.

The way everyone else does it... The way you were told to do it... The way it's always been done... These are often NOT the 'best' way to do something. Consider alternatives. Seek new tools. Invest time into learning new skills that can improve quality in less time. Chat GPT is a great example - if you have not tried it, you may be scapegoating with one of the 3-excuses above.

The use of technology, artificial intelligence, scheduling apps, calendar apps, Google forms, and social media, can help the life coach to solve problems faster. Technology when rightly utilized, can help the life coach make his coaching sessions to be more productive, and help him to solve problems quicker.

Use tools like Microsoft Teams, or Zoom for efficient communication with colleagues and supervisors. Clear communication can help clarify expectations and reduce misunderstandings.

One thing that is helpful is to engage all staff on the benefits of the digital age and the ways in which it can actually assist us. Following from this it is also pertinent to assist staff by ensuring that they receive adequate training and continuous coaching until they feel competent.

Strategic Tech can drastically change your workload 1. Task Management Tools - Use Trello & Asana to prioritise tasks, create to-do lists, set deadlines & collab with your team 2. Time Tracker Software - Use Toggl or Harvest to monitor how you spend your time & identify time-wasting activities and optimise your schedule 3. Communication Platforms - Use Slack or Microsoft Teams to stay connected with colleagues, share updates & collaborate on projects 4. Automation - Tools like Zapier streamline repetitive tasks & automate data entry, file & email notification 5. Virtual Assistant - Consider using a VA or AI-assistant to help with admin tasks, scheduling, & research. VA’s can handle routine tasks, allowing you to focus on high level tasks

You are a powerful person and can establish your own pace of play. You’re working remotely because you’ve proven that you can! Make good use of your talent and abilities and thrive!

This can do wonders for your wellbeing as taking regular breaks, to stretch, grab a coffee ? or some meditation for 5 minutes, will give the mind body and soul, time to re set and then you can focus on your tasks again.

Reinforce the importance of regular breaks by emphasising the impact they have on mental clarity and overall well-being. Encourage clients to personalise their break routines to include activities that refresh and rejuvenate them, such as mindfulness exercises, brief walks outside, or listening to feel good music. Remind them that breaks are not a sign of laziness but rather a strategic tool for enhancing productivity and sustaining energy levels throughout the day. Helping clients integrate these intentional breaks into daily routines can lead to greater focus, resilience, and satisfaction with their work and personal lives.

Taking break helps clear the mind and helps the body refuel and recover. Either go out for a walk in nature or do totally something else that you enjoy the most.

I agree, but 5 minute break is very short, and does not provide full recharge. I have a good practice to allow myself for a lighter day after every 2-3 days of busy agenda. I concentrate meetings and interactions to beginning of the week, and tend to have Thursdays and Fridays with lot of focus time and few self-care moments. Hairdresser or manicure is a great way how to end the working week and reward yourself.

Don't hesitate to ask for help if you are overburdened. Have a dialogue with your manager or supervisor and tell him or her that your workload needs to be reviewed as you have too much on your plate. Request him/her to delegate some tasks to someone else or ask your manager whom can you delegate some of the tasks. Simply worrying and getting stressed up will not help you in any way. By asking for help, you will not only ease your burden and lessen the stress but also increase your productivity and efficiency.

Remote working can be very very taxing. Cultivating a good network to fallback on, to speak to can be very helpful and transfortive.

To seek support by hiring more hands and contracting tasks to virtual assistants is important if one intends to solve more problems and focus on important tasks. One can also delegate duties to staff to handle tasks faster. Seeking support should also include demanding the support of other life coaches to handle important but technical tasks.

Reach out to colleagues, friends, or family members for support and advice. You're not alone in feeling overwhelmed, and talking about it can help.If you consistently feel overwhelmed, it might be time to reassess your workload and see if adjustments can be made to make it more manageable.

Humility can be a massive challenge for some people. The notion that 'only you' can do a task is usually not true, and the sooner you ask for help, the faster your delegate will get good at the task. Ask for help sooner than later. Waiting until an emergency develops is waiting too long!

Those that feel like they never get anything done or complete everything they wanted to get done would benefit greatly from this practice. Making note of what you have done vs. what you haven't, shows you proof that you are being productive instead of beating yourself up about what you still need to do. During your work day you can ask yourself questions such as: What did I do well? What did I get done faster or easier than I thought? What did I learn today? What did I do differently today than I have in the past that I would do again? What was the high point of my day? What would I like to complete tomorrow and what time will I do that?

The most important thing I have found is setting realistic expectations of what you can do. It is easy to get carried away trying to do everything but for our own welfare we need to have clear boundaries of where to stop. A starting point is to ask what will happen if I don’t do it. Then can someone else do it. I find setting micro daily targets helps be feel successful even if I have a long list of things to do

Reflect Daily. el dia dia nos consume, y las tareas repetitivas nos mecanizan, cuando esto este sucediente. no es cambiar nuestro accionar, lo mejor es analizar las acciones que hacemos cada tarea a ver donde estamos fallando o que podemos aplicar mejora continua.

Al final de cada día, es importante reflexionar. Tomarse unos minutos para revisar lo que se ha logrado y lo que debe ser trasladado al día siguiente. Esta práctica ayuda a reconocer los logros, por peque?os que sean, y establece un plan de acción claro para ma?ana. También brinda la oportunidad de ajustar las estrategias si ciertas tareas siguen sin completarse, lo que indica la necesidad de un enfoque diferente. Parar y reflexionar sobre el por qué estamos haciendo y qué estamos haciendo nos saca de la inercia del día a día y nos permite ver lo que realmente importa.

Just get going! Taking that first step and being consistent will get you there. Even if they are seemingly small tasks. If they’re in the right direction, you’re that much closer to completion!

Amidst the digital age's allure of remote work lies a seldom explored aspect—the invisible weight of constant availability. While technology empowers flexibility, it also blurs boundaries, making it challenging to disconnect. This constant connectivity, while convenient, can lead to burnout as tasks pile up, and the line between work and personal life blurs. An often-overlooked aspect of managing overwhelming remote work schedules is establishing a "virtual commute" routine. This practice creates mental boundaries between work and personal life, fostering balance and preventing burnout. Activities like a short walk or meditation before and after work hours can be beneficial.

Embrace the slow productivity concept by Cal Newport to combat overwhelm and burnout. Slow Productivity lies on 3 principles: - do fewer things/ work on fewer projects - work at a natural pace - obsess about quality Read more in the new book by Cal - Slow Productivity.

Jealously guard your time - money can be replaced - time cannot. Whenever you can, maintain a "let's do it now," approach. Use the phone instead of text or email. Call people for answers from the middle of a meeting instead of adjourning to gather information. Ask for on the spot decisions by offering a right to adjust or rescind the decision within a set time period. Make decisions faster - bad decisions are often very instructive toward making faster and better future decisions. Perfection is the enemy of done!

Some of my clients find it helpful to structure a remote workday into time blocks for essential tasks. A structured remote work schedule can help to ensure that prioritized responsibilities are not neglected due to over focus in other areas. An example might look like… Customer service for two hours in the morning, returning emails for two hours, project oversight in the afternoon for two hours, followed by, miscellaneous emergent items, including wrap up and pre-planning for the next day. Breaks and lunch scheduled at the clients discretion. A consistent and controlled schedule can reduce anxiety and help to maintain a sense of calm.