The summer is supposed to be the least stressful period of the year, but in most organizations today, no one can score a break from the frenetic pace – not even from June-September.  In fact, summer months can actually be more pressure-filled because more people are taking vacations, leaving fewer staff around to do the same number of projects. 

So what do you do if you’re feeling overwhelmed at work?  The first step is to tell someone.  Your managers and colleagues are not mind readers, and no one is keeping track of your time that closely.  If you don’t say anything and keep behaving like everything is peachy, they will assume that it is.  Sit down with your boss and broach the subject by saying that you’d love his or her help in prioritizing your tasks, because you don’t want to see anything fall through the cracks.  This will give everyone the perception that you’re looking out for the best interests of the organization.  You can let on that you’re feeling a little discombobulated, but watch your tone.  You definitely don’t want to come across as a complainer.

Also, when seeking help in scaling down your workload, make sure if you have a good case.  For example, if you’re taking two hour lunches because the weather is nice, leaving the office early to hit the beach before dark, or spending hours on end discussing the Sopranos finale by the water cooler, your boss isn’t going to be overly sympathetic to your plight.  But if you are known as a responsible, efficient team player, he or she will likely be very supportive.