Overwhelm in Ministry & How to Deal with It
Part VIII in the Working Church Series
“There’s just too much to do”
“I can’t do it all”
“I’m only one person”
“We’re totally understaffed to handle this amount of work”
These kinds of phrases are heard every day in ministry settings around the world. I’ve had employees say these things to me from time to time. While I haven’t personally experienced overwhelm for more than a few days, these statements reveal something much deeper about a person’s perspective and their productivity.
Perspective
I would argue that overwhelm is a prolonged period of dealing with a workload that feels impossible. It then impacts a person’s sense of joy and likely their physical health. It becomes heavy.
What I’m more interested in is what overwhelm reveals about a person’s perspective.
Why can’t they see the forest through the trees?
Why can’t they enjoy progress over perfection?
Why can’t they see the good amidst the mess?
It’s not for me to judge the answers to these questions. Nonetheless, I think asking them has some value. Whatever the case, when a person feels overwhelmed, they will struggle to match perspective with their workload. It’s often a visceral experience, filled with emotion. The way out isn’t to work harder or “buckle down”. In fact, the way forward can often depend on the person.
A good coach, spiritual director or friend can help us get in touch with perspective. For example, for Bishops, “Confirmation season” doesn’t last forever. For principals, graduation season ends in about a week. For DRE’s first communions come and go. Perspective and experience tell us this and remind us to breath.
Productivity
If there’s one thing that I am convinced of related to overwhelm it’s this- I’ve never met someone who is organized (with a productivity system in place) that is also overwhelmed for a prolonged period of time. Maybe they’re out there but I just haven’t seen it.
The fact is that our productivity systems can protect us from getting overwhelmed with frequency and for lengthy periods of time. Our systems can also help us see the big picture, affirming our good work amidst our challenges.
Our productivity systems, filled with lists, routines and habits, keep us grounded when ministry gets tough. I’m not suggesting that an organized person won’t feel overwhelm here and there. I do believe that a person with a strong productivity system rarely experiences overwhelm. Having managed and led hundreds of people for over two decades, this seems to be true.
Moving Forward
If you are feeling overwhelmed with your ministry, you’re not alone. I don’t know anyone in education or parish work that has all of the resources they want. Talk to a DRE about the lack of catechists or a principal about low salaries for their teachers- these factors are real. Talk to a priest who gets demotivated by lay people reading the bulletin during Mass. All of this is very real.
I suggest going back to the basics. My post on GTD can help. Taking more pride in your todo list, your weekly review and the tidiness of your workplace- all of this can help.
Trimming your list of responsibilities, try this as well. Less but better. Rebuilding your daily routines of showing up at a certain time and stopping at a reasonable time- also useful.
From a physical standpoint, being honest about what you’re eating and how much value you are placing on rest. Sabbath- don’t neglect this either. Finally, your daily prayer life- is God getting the first fruits of your day?
Overwhelm is real but there is so much we can do to walk with it, through it and to the other side of a more restful (and ultimately more fruitful) season of ministry. You can do this and God is right there with you.