We have all had days when we are busy and we feel overwhelmed. Deadlines are closing in such that each time you get an email it’s just another urgent reminder to add to your long to-do list. During such rying’ times, your family (and acquaintances) seem to need you more. Also this is the time when you cannot do the actual things you want to do.

If, for instance you are an accountant, you can bet that such a scenario will hit you in mid-month during the filing deadlines. So the question that pops up at this juncture is, what can you do to keep up your energy up, get through the deadlines, be available to your family, friends and colleagues and finally keep some time for yourself?

The obvious choice that most people choose is, I can’t be bothered right now, or I’m the one who chose this life, I have to endure and do what I have to do, be it with less sleep. I just have to make it. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure I can help because I’m in that particular spot right now, but I can try. So here goes.

Don’t be hard on yourself for not being able to keep up with everything on your plate. Simply choose what is most important or urgent and put those things on top of your list. What I mean is, prioritize. The rest can be dealt with at a later date.

You should also allow yourself to enjoy the things that are going well.

Next, you should now take your organizer or a scheduling app and plan for each day as accurately as possible. Therefore when a new urgent request comes through you can slot it to a particular time.

Try to not keep piling your work. What do I mean? Don’t abandon your projects. Put them away when you are ready to stop working on them and get back to them when you feel like you can do something with the project.

Before the day ends, you should check your desk and remove things that do not belong there. That should help keep your workplace a little less cluttered.

Light a candle in your workplace or alternatively, open a window. The scents (and wind) will remind you of life outside the office.

You should then lock your door if it’s an office, or alternatively head to a place where you won’t be disturbed for a 15minute break.

Take a small nap or get into reading non-work related books, even it means you leave the office a little later than expected.

Try to work out by taking a brisk walk in or out of the office. If you can’t leave the office, you can keep some weights in your office which you can use to do stretching exercises.

Finally, remember your priorities. You should not turn down helping your family just because you have plenty of work on your hands. You should remember that asking for help from your colleagues if the stress is becoming too much is okay.