I am overwhelmed with too many thoughts!!

??I am overwhelmed with too many thoughts!!??

?As a mid-career professional, the burden of responsibilities, looming deadlines, and the constant influx of information can easily lead to overwhelming thoughts.

I have personally experienced numerous instances of facing similar situations, where conflicting high-priority tasks with aggressive deadlines hindered my ability to concentrate effectively.

Despite eventually managing to complete the tasks, it often meant stretching work hours and resorting to a firefighting approach, leaving me exhausted.

??Upon retrospection, I have identified the major reasons behind this recurring situation: ??

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??Procrastination: Procrastination has been a significant contributing factor to finding myself in such situations. I used to procrastinate on tasks that seemed low-priority initially, but later, they would unexpectedly escalate into high-priority tasks with aggressive deadlines. Underestimating the ample time available to complete these tasks when they were of lower or medium priority was a common pitfall.

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? Time management: Juggling numerous tasks and projects can be challenging. Thoughts about prioritizing, time allocation and meeting deadlines flooded my mind causing stress and a mental burden.

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?? Imposter syndrome: As a mid-career professional, I was expected to take on more significant responsibilities and leadership roles. This added pressure triggered imposter syndrome, leading to self-doubt about my abilities and achievements.

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?? Information overload: I was constantly being bombarded with information from various sources, including emails, social media, news, and industry updates. Deciding what is important to me and what’s relevant to my work was overwhelming.

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??Continuous learning: Despite my efforts to engage in continuous learning from various sources on evolving technologies, new tools, frameworks, and methodologies, I found it challenging to keep up with the rapid pace at which the IT industry was evolving. The struggle to strike a balance between professional development and day-to-day responsibilities resulted in an overwhelming influx of thoughts concerning what to learn next and how to effectively integrate newfound knowledge into my work.

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?? The complexity of the projects: The complexity of managing multiple projects and teams simultaneously, each requiring a high level of attention to detail, created a continuous flow of thoughts about tasks, deadlines, innovative approaches, and potential challenges, and made it difficult to focus on one specific aspect at a time.

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??I have effectively tackled this situation on numerous occasions by employing a variety of strategies, such as nurturing a constructive outlook, practising patience, and sustaining unwavering dedication.??

??Avoid procrastination: Mitigating procrastination holds paramount importance in enhancing productivity and realizing objectives. Unearthing the underlying triggers behind procrastination remains pivotal due to the unique factors that lead to postponing various tasks. Although my mentors have been instrumental in equipping me with effective strategies to combat procrastination, I occasionally grapple with delaying specific tasks. After introspection, I've identified several primary causes contributing to my procrastination tendencies.

??Countering Perfectionism

A prominent factor contributing to this challenge is perfectionism, which leads me to believe that a task must achieve utmost flawlessness before initiation.

An illustrative instance occurred when I grappled with perfectionism while drafting technical documents.

I held the conviction that these documents demanded absolute perfection and comprehensiveness, leaving no room for errors or uncertainties.

Consequently, an inordinate amount of time was dedicated to scrutinizing and refining the content, with an almost obsessive focus on minutiae.

Regrettably, this approach yielded unintended outcomes. Firstly, it considerably prolonged the completion of the document, causing unnecessary bottlenecks in the project's advancement.

Secondly, my colleagues, reliant on the information to progress with their responsibilities, faced prolonged waiting times, thereby hampering their productivity.

Recognizing the adverse repercussions of my perfectionist tendencies, I actively endeavoured to strike a more balanced approach.

I began establishing realistic criteria for the degree of perfection demanded in technical documents, acknowledging that minor imperfections were acceptable as long as the core information remained accurate and lucid.

As a social media content creator, I might delay making a video until I have state-of-the-art gadgets, a great camera, and an exceptional script.

However, I have learned to counter this tendency by realizing that I can start creating videos with a simple smartphone and a relevant script. By acting with the available resources, I can overcome perfectionism-induced procrastination.

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?? Addressing motivational Lapses:

In my personal experience, I have faced procrastination when dealing with tasks that appeared uninteresting, too challenging, or did not offer clear benefits or rewards.

During such instances, I found it challenging to gather the motivation needed to initiate or complete these tasks in a timely manner.

Although the genuine concern of lacking motivation may have valid reasons, it remains essential to address it proactively to fulfil our job roles.

Neglecting to do so could potentially lead to disastrous consequences in various aspects of life, including our professional lives. Addressing a lack of motivation demands substantial effort on our part, involving some of the following steps.

1.????Identify Root Cause: I have made efforts to pinpoint the underlying reasons for my lack of motivation, whether it stems from work-related challenges or personal issues affecting my focus.

2.????Break Monotony: To counter the monotony, I actively sought new projects and engaging tasks that align with my career objectives, injecting fresh energy into my work.

3.????Seek Guidance and Support: In my pursuit of motivation, I have actively engaged in mentorship and coaching programs, benefiting from valuable guidance and support to overcome my challenges.

4.????Cultivate Positive Relationships: Recognizing the importance of positive interactions at work, I worked on overcoming limiting beliefs and fostering constructive relationships with colleagues, contributing to a supportive work environment.

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??Focused Approach for Increased Fulfillment and Productivity:

Through guidance from my mentor, I gained a valuable insight: "If you are everywhere, you are nowhere." This wisdom made me realize that my previous approach was flawed, as I was attempting to showcase expertise in multiple areas simultaneously.

Consequently, I ended up feeling dissatisfied with most of them. To remedy this, I made a conscious decision to concentrate solely on the work that held the most significance for me.

Simultaneously, I ensured that I continued learning without letting it interfere with my primary focus. This shift in mindset has led to greater fulfilment and productivity in my chosen endeavors.

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?? Slow down to go fast: A few years ago, I was working on a major project with tight deadlines and high expectations.

Initially, I tried to rush through the tasks, believing that working faster would lead to quicker completion. However, I soon realized that this approach led to mistakes, overlooked details, and increased stress.

Feeling overwhelmed, I decided to take a step back and reassess my approach. I slowed down, focusing on understanding the project requirements thoroughly and meticulously planning each step.

This deliberate pace allowed me to catch potential issues early on and allocate my resources more effectively.

As counterintuitive as it seemed, taking the time to slow down and be methodical ultimately resulted in increased efficiency and productivity. By addressing challenges proactively and working diligently with a clear direction, I was able to deliver high-quality results within the deadline. This experience taught me the importance of patience and thoughtful execution, highlighting how sometimes, slowing down can lead to achieving goals faster and with better outcomes.

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In the intricate dance of work and personal life, the tide of overwhelming thoughts can often threaten to capsize our productivity and well-being.

Recognizing the roots of procrastination, embracing a balanced approach to perfectionism, and addressing motivational dips are integral to maintaining equilibrium.

Amidst the tumult of complex projects and the constant barrage of information, the wisdom of focusing efforts and occasionally slowing down rises as a guiding light.

By weaving these lessons into our professional lives, we not only weather the storm of overwhelming thoughts but also harness them to steer our careers towards fulfilment, innovation, and success.

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Gururaja Apsingekar

Mid-career Professionals Mentor | Coach

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