The HBR Guides Collection (8 Books) (HBR Guide Series)

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Chapter 12

A Practical Plan

for When You Feel

Overwhelmed

by Peter Bregman

We’ve all experienced it: that feeling that we’ve got so

much to do that there’s no chance we’ll get it all done.

And certainly not done on time. Right now, I’m feeling

completely overwhelmed by my to-do list.

Here’s the crazy part. I just spent the last two days try-

ing to work without actually working. I start something

but get distracted by the internet. Or a phone call. Or an

e-mail. At a time when I need to be most effi cient, I’ve

become less effi cient than ever.

You’d think it would be the opposite—that when we

have a lot to do, we’d become very productive in order ...