Experts have one simple piece of advice for any advisor who is running flat out: stop. The fact is, if your life feels like a runaway train, it can hurt not only your business — it can also hurt you. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to get things under control.

“If you have too much on your plate, you may pay the price with your health, your performance at work or your happiness,” says Lorinda Thompson, director of finance, human resources and administration with Scotts Canada Ltd. in Mississauga, Ont.

She recommends that you learn the signs of overwork, and move to address the problem. Among the surefire indicators that you’re overwhelmed are an unmanageable workload, excessive work hours, cancelled vacation days, skipped lunches, lower-quality work and weekends crammed with office paperwork.

There are also physical signs, says Lydia Makrides, president and CEO of Creative Wellness Solutions in Halifax: “Feeling stressed, being irritable and short-tempered, having problems sleeping, feeling depressed and fighting with your partner and your kids are all signs that something is wrong.”

Lack of energy is another indicator all is not right with your frenzied world. New research from the University of Alberta has found that there is a spectrum of “being spent.” It starts with tiredness, moves to fatigue and finally hits exhaustion. At each step along the way, symptoms escalate from forgetfulness, impatience and sleepiness; to anxiety, trouble concentrating and increased sensitivity to light; then, finally, to confusion, trouble staying awake and social withdrawal.

Stephanie Wilson, author of Getting Organized (Warner Books) and the organization advisor for Office Depot stores, says organization is the key to recovery: “You’ll always be busy, but you can manage a great deal of productivity by taking charge.”

Clutter, she adds, “is the enemy.”

Start with your desktop — enemy ground that Wilson says merely represents decisions you have failed to make. One of four basic approaches is required to clear the clutter: toss the material, refer it to someone else, act on it or file it.

Dealing with the disarray not only makes you feel better, it also saves you time. “You need to look at outcomes,” says Wilson. “If you need to spend five to 15 minutes looking for a file, you are losing productivity — and creating a bottleneck.”

If this is one of your problems, you are in good company. A recent survey conducted by Office Depot found that 53% of business people function in a state of “controlled chaos.” About 34% of those surveyed stated they lose almost two hours every week — a full workday every month — to lost productivity caused by everyday disarray.

Office Depot has developed the Five-Day Office Makeover Plan to help people take control of workplace disorganization. Day 1 deals with slimming down the piles of paper, boxes, Post-it Notes and other accoutrements that litter your office. Day 2 is designed to tone up your organizational skills by creating a prioritized to-do list and paring big projects into manageable chunks. Day 3 focuses on increasing file-finding flexibility, while Day 4 is devoted to strengthening your organizational skills (including keeping only one calendar and centralizing supplies). Finally, from Day 5 onward, there is working well — and wisely — while outside the office.

It is not just your office that needs to be in top working order; so do you. “Regular exercise, eating well and getting enough rest are important, as well as spending time with loved ones. These all help minimize feelings of work overload,” says Thompson, a certified management accountant and MBA.

“During the workday,” she adds, “you should also take a break from your computer and go out for a walk. Perform simple stretches or deep-breathing exercises to help relax and rejuvenate.”

Companies can also act to enhance the health and productivity of their employees. “Compelling evidence is emerging that a sizable portion of the billions of dollars currently spent by employers on health-related costs is preventable with workplace health promotion programming,” Makrides notes.

At Scotts Canada, for example, a Live Total Health program has been launched for associates, which includes wellness programs, regular health newsletters, a speaker series and a subsidized fitness program. “The goal,” says Thompson, “is to help the individual manage every aspect of their overall well-being with tangible, ongoing support.” IE

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