Somehow (because I said yes) I feel I have over committed myself and am feeling stressed to the point that sometimes I shut down rather than tackle the list of to do’s.  The good news is I am still meeting deadlines and getting things accomplished.  However, intellectually I know that I could be doing better.  I know I don’t do well with lots of choices.  I am a bit of a perfectionist.  Can you give me a place to start?

Response: 

My guess is that you *have* overcommitted.  That wouldn’t surprise me in the least.  Are you receiving the Just Whelmed emails (www.JustWhelmed.com).  They come weekly and I spend a great deal of time talking about being overwhelmed (overcommitted, etc.).  So that’s one resource.

Have you listened to the “Assessing the Time & Energy You Have Available to Promise (ATP)” teleseminar I did in August. Just go to the Downloads page and you can get it for free http://www.meggin.com/downloads.php.

You might also take a look at the Special Report on that page about CALM Down (I wrote it about this time last year). This is prime time for people to get overly revved up. And for those of us who are perfectionists (I’m with you there, unfortunately, but still working on it), it’s even crazier.

So, to get started, access these two resources and then do this:

1. Make a list of everything that you currently have committed to (and it will probably freak you out). However, it’s all there in your head and I’m just trying to get it out on paper.

2. Then go through that list and divide it into current and future. While you’re going through the list, consider actually dumping a few of the things off the list altogether. Be very sparing about what you keep on your current list.

3. When you have winnowed it down, then do some prioritizing of that list.  And remember, I doubt there is anything on that list that will change the course of human history (which is not true for our new president’s to-do list)…but there are things there that are much more important that the others – personally and professionally.

The truth is, you CANNOT get everything done. You have to make choices about what you do and what you don’t. Your health, happiness, energy, mental capacity, etc. all depend on letting some things go.

I hope this helps. It’s a great question and I’ll be posting this to the blog because I know many of our other E’s are in similar places.

Thanks for sending in your question.