What To Do When There's Too Much To Do

A Final Note

Stress is your body’s way of saying youhaven’t worked enough unpaid overtime.Scott Adams, American cartoonist (Dilbert)

One of the reasons that Scott Adams’s cartoon Dilbert is so popular is that it wryly captures precisely what American office workers experience and feel on a daily basis. The above quote, attributed to evil HR Director Catbert, resonates with those who feel overworked, put-upon, and stretched thin—especially during this time of economic downturn.

As I write this in November 2011, we’re still mired in the Great Recession, although some government analysts would say otherwise. Productivity is down and the job market is tighter than it’s been in decades, which means that most of us are willing to do whatever it takes ...