3 signs of work overload: find out what to do to avoid it

Nowadays, it is not difficult to find professionals who are overworked. Do you suffer from work overload?

In addition to the increasingly busy and stressful routine, factors such as the accumulation of functions and management that does not care about the health and well-being of its employees make work overload increasingly common, regardless of the area of activity.

And it was with this in mind that we created today’s content. 

In this text, we will talk about 3 signs of work overload, how to identify these factors and the best practices to prevent them from disrupting your work routine.

To make your reading easier and more enjoyable, we have divided the text into topics, and we will cover the following subjects:

• The romanticization of the “octopus” employee and work overload
• How to identify work overload?
• 3 signs of work overload
• How to avoid overload at work?
• Conclusion

The romanticization of the “octopus” employee and work overload

Have you ever heard of the term “octopus” employee? 

This term, which has become popular in the corporate world in recent years, is given to that professional who, in order to cope with all the demands and functions placed on him, would need to have 8 arms, like the tentacles of an octopus.

Of course, in most cases, this type of professional is seen positively – as they tend to be productive and functional for the company. 

But this type of romanticization of this behavior hides one of the main factors that represent work overload: the accumulation of functions.

Although this professional may initially perform more than one function with ease, over time all this productivity tends to give way to physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by the excess of tasks placed upon him. 

Therefore, the concept of the octopus employee needs to be rethought as soon as possible.

How to identify work overload?

At first, this may seem like a somewhat difficult mission. 

But perhaps one of the main indicators that you are overwhelmed at work and need to pay more attention is your health.

When following a stressful routine full of work and more work, our body is one of the first to feel the negative impact of this rhythm. 

Factors that may indicate work overload include: 

– headaches/body aches;
– difficulty sleeping;
– excessive tiredness;
– irritability;
– lack of attention.

These are just some of the signs our body gives us to show that the workload is too high, and that it is better to pay more attention to your physical and mental health.

Therefore, if you notice any of these symptoms frequently, in addition to seeking medical help, try rethinking your daily work routine, as there is a high chance that it is the cause of these problems.

3 signs of work overload

As mentioned in the previous topic, the signs our body gives us when we are reaching our limit are very clear.

And, just like with our health, in our work environment it is possible to notice clear signs that the workload placed on you is too high. 

Below, we list some of these signs to help you pay more attention.

A workload that goes beyond the ideal

We know that, with the rush of everyday life, it is normal that from time to time it is necessary to go beyond your official working hours – whether to deal with an unforeseen event or even to finish some pending tasks left over the days.

The problem is when this type of behavior becomes a habit and you find yourself leaving home later than you should every day of the week. 

Although in some companies this may imply paying overtime, the ideal is that your working hours are followed, without having to exceed this limit. 

Decreased productivity

Contrary to what many people think, overwork is not synonymous with increased productivity. 

Quite the opposite! 

One of the main signs that a professional is overloaded is a drop in their performance. 

With an excess of tasks to be performed, it is common for professionals to feel increasingly unmotivated to generate the results that the company expects from them. 

Increased conflicts in the workplace

With an excessive increase in work, it is normal for stress levels to also increase. 

Because, in most cases, if employee X is overloaded, it is very likely that this is happening because employee Y is not performing his tasks properly, overloading his coworker.

This type of work dynamic, combined with the high levels of stress caused by work overload, can result in a real time bomb of conflicts, ready to explode on a Wednesday afternoon. 

And that's not good for the team.

How to avoid overload at work?

Although there are practical measures that help reduce work overload, some of them, unfortunately, are beyond the control of employees and must be adopted by the responsible managers – as they involve structural changes to the company itself.

But, so that employees can improve their own work routine, we have put together some ideas to help!

Have a plan

That's the main tip! 

Define your priorities well

Separating your tasks into urgent, important and those that can wait according to the execution time and deadline for each one is also a great way to manage your time. 

Take care of yourself

And last but not least: take good care of yourself! 

Always prioritize your health and well-being, because they are worth their weight in gold! 

Therefore, know how to separate your work time and your free time. Dividing these two cycles of your day well can help you lead a less tiring routine.

And at work, if you notice any type of behavior that results in an overload of work for you, try to speak to the people responsible to solve this problem.

Conclusion

Even though, in order to maintain our lifestyles, it is necessary to adopt a work routine that may end up going beyond what we can handle, it is necessary to know the limits of our body and mind.

This way, you will be able to achieve professional success without having to exhaust yourself physically or mentally.

Did you like this content? Take the opportunity to read it too How to motivate yourself? 5 self-motivation techniques.

Nathalia Silva November 8, 2021