What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

by erichammer

Posted: 13 years ago 17 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

So I was really sick for a few days (I'm diabetic and my sugar was raging out of control -- it was really scary and I was pretty much unable to work while it was going on since I felt so sick and sleepy. I think I finally have it back down to normal now).

Now, in part because I was so sick and did little work during that time, I'm just swamped. I've got around 75 articles/web pages to write up for various clients and I've got three more people who have already asked me about taking on additional projects. Currently, I'm telling people I'll have to start new projects around 2 weeks down the line because I'm so busy. Usually, I just add them to the mix and work on different things at different times so I don't get bored, but I'm too swamped right now to do that.

Beyond my writing work, I've got my blog, which I try to update every day, but I haven't been doing so lately because I've been too busy.

Never mind setting up my mailing list for the blog. I signed up for Imnica mail a month ago and haven't set anything up yet because I've been too busy. I had been in the process of doing a major re-write of four PLR ebooks I found which relate to my niche (when I say major re-write, I mean that the books will pretty much be unrecognizable from the originals when I'm done) which I wanted to offer as inducements to get people to sign up, but that's stalled because I just don't have time right now.

I also plan to set up videos for the blog as well as slide shows on various topics and have been planning for months to start working on a podcast, but it's all on hold because I never seem to have enough time to get work done.

Oh, and on top of those, I have work to do with backlink building, which I've largely stopped for the time being because I was so busy and I've got another two blogs I want to get started with plus I want to set up a site for my writing business (I already own the domains I need, but haven't had the time to work on it lately).

I've also been absent from this forum for more than a week because I was sick and then was working like mad to try to catch up.

So, any ideas for organization to help me feel less overwhelmed?

I know about outsourcing, but right now it's not an option. My blog is not earning anything yet and I'm not willing to outsource to the junk writers who take $1-$5 per article. I've seen the kind of crap they come up with and I would never put that on my blog. Unfortunately, because the blog isn't earning much yet, I can't afford to hire good outsourcers who actually do quality work (not to mention that I'm an outsourcer myself -- I make my living as a writer as I mentioned above, but hope to move into running my own blogs instead of writing for others so that I can better control my income flow). Beyond that, any thoughts for someone feeling overwhelmed at the moment?

Thanks,

Eric

#feel #overwhelmed

brenda ashford 13 years ago

hey eric im just starting article writing and im so excited.it would be a pleasure to write for you one article for free.thats my humble offer.
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erichammer 13 years ago

Thanks Brenda. I appreciate the offer. I'll send you a PM with my e-mail details of a topic you can try out. Be forewarned however that I have very high standards, but if you do a good job, I'd be happy to recommend you to others.

Eric
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Gary King 13 years ago

Eric,

First, glad you're feeling better.

Turn off everything.

Everything.

Stay off forums.

Stay out of email - no more then 3 times per day (because I know it's hard to go cold turkey).

If you MUST reply to an email, do it quickly and file it. No long-winded stuff.

Eliminate anything optional.

Nose to the grindstone and power through.

If possible, let the best customers know you were sick and are fighting back to provide quality service. Do that with ONE email - send it "to" yourself and BCC (blind carbon copy) them all - that way you don't reveal their email address but you also don't have to send several emails.

Oh yeah, please do come back and play with the group when you can breathe again... :-)

Gary
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HypnoHugh 13 years ago

I've had a similar problem - juggling work from different clients.

First stop is to make a list - having it all down on paper helps free your brain.

I then schedule sessions to work on each project e.g. Today PM Client A, Tomorrow all day Client B etc.

Another way is to group similar tasks together e.g. installing Wordpress on 3 websites at once rather than doing them individually over a few days.

Also start early in the day - it feels good have some productive tasks completed first thing.

Good luck!
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- rosetrees 13 years ago
  
  When that happens to me this is what I do:
  
  Focus 100% on the essential jobs. Ignore everything else until the essential tasks are done.
  
  You've done the right thing by putting your new clients on hold for a couple of weeks. They'll wait - and I'm sure they'll be happy to.
  
  Focus on writing those 75 articles that are already promised. If you can really concentrate you should be able to do that in a week.
  
  Then re-assess the situation, knowing that what absolutely had to be done has been done and the pressure has been lifted.
  
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FerdinandF 13 years ago

First rule is... Take care of yourself. If you are not well you will not work well. Rest if you need to, work can wait, even if it does not feel that way.
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uleesgold Banned 13 years ago

for a short while, totally forget about jobs, leads, writing, money, etc.

go hang out in a part of town you've never really been to before and hang out.
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JamesGw 13 years ago

I just like to step back and look at my problems objectively. Then I game plan and get to work. Usually when you feel overwhelmed, it's actually pretty easy to get the stuff done if you just focus on it and stop worrying.
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- AmandaT 13 years ago
  
  Take some time and make a list of everything you need to get done. Figure out what needs to get done first. Perhaps post to your blog that updates will be slow while you recover. Then, make a schedule, set goals. Decide what you are getting done each day, but make sure to also make time for breaks or you'll get burned out too fast! Email your customers explaining that your illness has slowed down your productivity and give them an estimated completion date based on the schedule you set forth. You just need to lay everything out in a way where you are only doing the things that must get done right away until you are caught up, and a simple daily goal list and schedule for when you want which articles done with make things seem so much more manageable. Sitting down and going "Okay, I'm writing ___ articles today." will work way better than panicking about needing 75 articles done.
  
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Benqueus 13 years ago

Being overwhelmed often leads to loss of focus and you'll get sick more often. Maybe you may want to concentrate on one area of work first e.g. writing. Personally, I tried to do 5 different tasks before and I feel stressed out and overwhelmed. Stick to one first and see how it works out for you.
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erichammer 13 years ago

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I'm going to try putting some of them into practice. And I am slowly whittling away at the pile of articles I need to write. One client already knows I'm running late and is fine with it and another isn't expecting his project done yet so I just have three projects that I need to rush to finish (of course, I still have for those three 35 articles to go, which I'm going to try to finish completely by the end of the weekend).

Thanks again,

Eric
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- Zabrina 13 years ago
  
  Gary has great advice. Here's my two cents, too.
  
  IMPORTANT:
  --Articles for customers expecting them today and tomorrow
  --Articles for customers expecting them this weekend
  --New client projects
  --Other articles
  --Site for writing business
  
  LESS IMPORTANT:
  --Blog posts
  --Set up mailing list
  --Finish rewriting ebooks
  
  IGNORE:
  --Blog videos
  --Podcasts
  --Backlink building
  
  Why and what does this mean? Here's my reasoning...
  
  IMPORTANT:
  Your customers always come first. The most urgent deadlines get worked on first, anything up to the end of the weekend.
  
  Then, set up new projects and tell them you'll start next week or the week after, so you don't find yourself out of work a week or two from now.
  
  After that, you'll have the next little while of work already set up, so work on articles due next week or later.
  
  Finally, but still important, set up a site for your business. It only has to be simple. It doesn't have to be complex. But it gives you much more prestige and allows people to start finding you more easily.
  
  LESS IMPORTANT:
  Blog posts are not crucial. Drop me a PM and I'll do a few of them for free, which you can space out every two or three days to make them last until you've got time to do them again.
  
  A mailing list and ebooks are also important for building up your audience, but they don't make you immediate money/reputation like the important stuff.
  
  IGNORE:
  You've been doing fine without making videos or podcasts or building backlinks. If you freak out about never being able to do them, you'll only increase your stress right now.
  
  All that really matters is your important stuff. When you get that under control, you move to the less important stuff. Only when you find yourself bored do you do the "someday"/"ignore" stuff.
  
  ...So, take a breath and follow Gary's advice about not going on forums or IM. Shut everything down, and go to a library or public place with wi-fi if that helps you work better because you're not allowed home until you do your work.
  
  Don't check Warrior Forum, limit emails to three specifically-timed sessions a day (9 AM, 12 noon, and 3 PM, for instance), and eliminate outside distractions ruthlessly.
  
  Like Gary says, nose to the grindstone will get you through.
  
  Thanks
  
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  doorkicker13 13 years ago
  
  I would make a list of everything that needs to be accomplished in order of importance. Start at the top and work your way down checking off each item as you complete it. Just make sure to take some breaks to clear your mind and regain your focus.
  
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Raydal 13 years ago

Your body is saying that you need rest and recreation.
Listen.

And don't write long post on the WF if you have a
lot of other writing to do.

-Ray Edwards
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- sylviad 13 years ago
  
  Learn to say No.
  
  If you're already up to your ears in work, why would you take on more assignments? It doesn't make sense, and in the long run, it won't look good for you when you miss deadlines or deliver inferior work.
  
  When you are overwhelmed, you cannot work effectively or at the top of your stride.
  
  You've already received a detailed plan you can follow, so apply it to your business.
  
  Decide which tasks are most important right now, and do those first.
  
  Criteria can include if you need the money, if you already promised the customer, if you are sure to get money, etc.
  
  Posting to your own blog to make money sounds like something you can put off until you catch up. So what if you don't make money there. You can make it from your paying customers. They should be your priority.
  
  If you want to get material onto your own blog, look for content from the article sites. There are some services that can automate content for you from their own article resources, but there is a cost.
  
  It won't take long for you to grab an article every few days from EA or another article site, and put it on your blog. Then you can get back to your paying work.
  
  If you find that you are getting more clients than you can handle, or if you have occasions when you cannot work (illness, work overload, vacations, etc.), it helps to have a few reliable writers to whom you can send the work.
  
  You can do that several ways: a) take the job and pass it on to others to complete, or b) have the client go directly to those writers. You'll want to screen the writers first, however, to make sure your customer will get the quality they expect from you.
  
  I know it sounds like you're giving your work away, but your clients will appreciate your taking that extra step to help them achieve their goals. Done right, you will not lose your customers, especially those who are already loyal to you.
  
  Sylvia
  
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WebPen 13 years ago

This isn't as applicable right this second, but consider charging more per article in the future. if you have 75 to write for clients, then I'm guessing you write some quality stuff!

Sure you may get less clients, but if you get 37 articles at twice as much money per, you're sitting at the same amount of money and a LOT more free time to focus on other things.

Just an idea :-p
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Rohan Anderson 13 years ago

One of the best pieces of time management advice I
ever received was to always place deadlines on
tasks.

Parkinson's Law states that any task will always
expand to fill the allotted time. Without a
deadline, there's no end in sight and it's really
easy to get overwhelmed.

So if you have a an article to write, don't say
"I'm going to write an article this morning",
because it will take the whole morning to get
done.

Instead, give yourself a deadline... 40 minutes or
whatever. And when the timer goes off, that's it.
Move on to the next task.

By putting a deadline on any worthy task, you'll
notice an immediate increase in productivity.
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