When life gets extra busy, part of surviving requires determining what you can reasonably eliminate or defer. A meeting here, a report there, a project or two over there, and you are at a sustainable place. The extra busyness tapers off, and that which you put aside can be picked up again.

But what happens when you are continually overloaded — too many good demands pulling at your attention? The opportunities are good, perhaps even great, but the volume of them is too much to fit into the time you have available. Many people can’t say “no” to good and great opportunties, so try to cope with always having too much to do.

You speed up.

You work faster.

You try to focus on many things, and concentrate with more intensity when a 5 minute period opens to work on “Project B85”.

You cut back on sleep.

You stay a bit later in the office.

You see less and less of your family. Mornings are a whirl, evenings a daze.

Important projects get sidelined due to the demands of the moment. “I’ll get to that tomorrow”, you rationalize.

You start the inextricable slide to a feverish working style.

In sum, you start giving a “F” to all the things that are important, and because of the siren call of the latest and loudest give an “A” to the immediately urgent things. You sell your future for the glitter of the moment.

Something is wrong with this picture.

So … What are you giving your “F” to, and is it the right thing to give it to? What are you giving your “A” to, and is it the right thing? If you can’t determine the answer for yourself, ask a trusted and close friend. Engage in a bit of 360 degree feedback in your personal life.

What one thing do you need to change this week?