Dealing with multiple tasks

A Long-Winded Sunday Post – When You Feel Overloaded.*

So many of you mention how overloaded you feel at times—overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks demanding your attention.

It wasn’t that long ago that Fogy found himself in a similar bind. Having just started a new position at a new company, he was busy setting up the day-to-day operations for the area he was responsible for. Then, the owner dropped by to see how things were going—and, casually, mentioned a task he needed done. It wasn’t part of Fogy’s original responsibilities. Still, not one to back down from a challenge, Fogy agreed and added it to his list.

And then came more. Each day brought another "extra" to Fogy’s desk, slowly turning a manageable workload into something far more intense.

So, how do you deal with this kind of pile-on?

Fogy, being a practical sort, knew the answer lay not in working harder, but in planning smarter. Every task got a place on the list and in the agenda. Most days began with a quick run-through: checking on each task, making calls, holding short meetings, and walking the floor to keep things moving.

But the real trick wasn't the organization—it was the decision-making behind it.

If a task was on track and contact had been made, it was marked off and Fogy moved on. If no one picked up the phone, or things weren’t ready, that task was simply moved to the bottom of the list and would be tried again in the next round. No stewing, no bottlenecks.

The worst thing a manager can do is fixate on an uncompleted task, holding up the entire system in the hope of pushing it through. Let's be honest—we can’t be available 24/7, and neither can anyone else. Even if the contract says we’re always on, humans still take showers. We still sleep (sometimes).

Now, let’s get back on track.

By keeping your list rolling—no panic, no overcontrol—you reduce stress while maintaining forward momentum. This also gives you space to handle surprises and still enjoy the coffee you definitely deserve.

Try this:

1. Sit down and scan your task list.
   Make the calls. Hold the meetings. Keep them short. (Discipline matters.)

2. If people are late or unavailable, move on.
   Reschedule for round two. Don’t stall everything else.

3. After round one, take a break.
   Seriously—coffee, walk, breathe. Recharge.

4. Execute your own top-priority tasks.
   Minimize interruptions. Train your team to know when to interrupt and trust them with autonomy. Micro-managing helps no one.

5. Schedule and execute round two with equal discipline.
   Now you’re already ahead of the game.

6. Prepare for round three if needed.
   By now, the landscape is clearer.

Discipline and time management are key when you’re overloaded. Fogy made mistakes back then (he still does), but the way things were organized meant those mistakes didn’t cause chaos.

And yes—the owner did eventually apologize for the overload. But he also said he was impressed with the results and how well everything had been handled.

Hope this helps, even just a little.

Cheers,
Fogy

👁️ Views (0)

Same job, different approach. Discipline makes the difference.