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Burnout resulting from excessive workload and daily task overload

Core Idea: Overexertion burnout occurs when consistently taking on too much work creates chronic stress, leading to emotional exhaustion despite potentially finding the work meaningful.

Key Elements

Defining Characteristics

• Primary cause is volume of commitments rather than their nature
• Results from chronic pattern of saying "yes" to too many tasks
• Can occur even with intrinsically enjoyable or meaningful work
• Characterized by feeling constantly overwhelmed by workload
• Manifests through daily schedule congestion and time pressure

Warning Signs

1. Calendar Congestion: Back-to-back commitments with no buffers
2. Persistent Time Deficit: Consistently working longer than intended
3. Task Spillover: Work regularly bleeding into personal time
4. Deadline Pressure: Constant sense of racing against time
5. Decision Fatigue: Reduced ability to make clear choices
6. Physical Symptoms: Tension, headaches, sleep disruption
7. Digital Overflow: Unmanageable communication volume

Contributing Factors

• Difficulty saying "no" to requests
• Perfectionism and unrealistic standards
• Poor boundary-setting in work relationships
• Misestimation of time requirements
• FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) on opportunities
• External pressure from workplace culture
• Digital communication overload

Intervention Approaches

1. Task Audit: Evaluate all commitments for necessity
2. Strategic Elimination: Remove non-essential tasks
3. Delegation: Redistribute appropriate tasks
4. Boundary Setting: Create firm work-hour limits
5. Buffer Scheduling: Build transition time into calendar
6. Expectation Management: Communicate realistic timelines
7. Digital Boundaries: Establish communication protocols

Connections

• Related Concepts: Energy Investment Portfolio (prevention tool), The Power of No (key skill), Six-Week Trap (contributing mechanism)
• Prevention Methods: Adding Friction to Distractions, Scheduled Breaks in Knowledge Work, Energising Distractions
• Recovery Techniques: Correcting Course After Distraction (for minor cases)
• Broader Context: Occupational Health, Time Management, Stress Management
• Applications: Work Reduction Strategies, Saying No, Delegation Methods

References

1. Abdaal, A. (2023). Feel Good Productivity. Information from highlight notes.

#burnout #workload #stress #time-management #productivity

Sources:

• From: Abdaal-Feel-good Productivity