You Might Be an Overcommitter If …

You might be an overcommitter if …

• Every time someone asks you to do something, you automatically say “yes.” No matter how full your calendar is or how ridiculously long your to-do list has become.
• You pledge to do every cool, fun, crazy or interesting idea that flies into your pretty little head.
• You volunteer to lead committees. More than one. At a time.
• You volunteer to serve on committees. Because they need you!
• Downsizing your schedule feels like quitting.
• You constantly feel like you’re dropping balls and letting someone down.
• You’ve perfected the art of extending deadlines or backing out of things because you’re only one woman and there’s not enough time. Which you eventually realize (after it’s too late).
• You have the best of intentions and the worst reality-check meter in the world.

Do you see yourself in this list? Every bullet point pretty much describes me to a tee.

I don’t have any magical answers, advice or tips. All I can say is that I’m working on my overcommitter issues.

One of the best tips I’ve heard is to respond, “Let me think about it and get back to you,” when someone asks you to commit to something. When I do that and am honest with myself about my time and priorities, I usually make the right call.

How about you? I’d love to hear from my fellow overcommitters (recovering or still suffering). Any tips? Suggestions? Stories?