1. Do not allow yourself to be internally overwhelmed – The first thing you should do is that you should not allow the many tasks on hand to overwhelm you.  The problem with most of us is that we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed with all the tasks on hand work.  Thinking that you will never get to complete all the tasks.  This will create the first immediate mind block, telling you that you cannot complete ALL of them.  Now, you surely can complete SOME of them right at some point in time?
2. You can do it – The next thing you should tell yourself is that with all these work that you have, you still WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL OF THEM!  Give yourself a positive proposition that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Give yourself hope that you can finish all of the work on your plate.  When people start to think that they cannot do it, the subconscious mind will also trigger, reinforcing the behavior to act in a way that you will never see the light at the end of the tunnel!
3. There will be always new work coming no matter what – Yes, we must see the light at the end of the tunnel eventually.  That is for one task.  There will always be other new tasks popping into your schedule.  We’ve got to recognize it because we have to face it and not allowed ourselves to be demoralized when they enter into your schedule.  You’ve got to manage it!  Know which tasks you should be putting priority on.  Or you can stay focus on the current one and get it out of your to-do list first!
4. Put one thing at a time – This will allow you to focus on task at a time.  Sure, there will be hundreds and thousands of things to do, but you have to start at one point.  One point we repeat!  So put one task that you are comfortable touching it first.  Do not worry about the others; you will complete the current one eventually and this will get your gear going to complete the subsequent ones.
5. Recognize that you may not complete everything – However, if you can’t finish everything after how much focus you’ve put, it’s not the end of the world.  Recognize the fact that you cannot complete everything on time.  The good part is that you’ve got your engine started and worked on your best effort in completing tasks.  This will give you a morale booster in your subsequent tasks!

These mental blocks are inefficient and unproductive to an individual when they need to get work done.  It is definitely not procrastination, but sheer pressure that is built internally, creating these mental blocks, restricting you to complete your task.  The underlying principle is perseverance.  If you believed that you can reach the finishing line, you will do what it takes to get you to the finishing line.  Stay focus on the task.  Make belief that you can complete it.  Do not be affected by the new tasks that come along the way (there will be always).  Complete the task and eventually, you get your gear going for the subsequent ones.

Be it if you are an employee or a manager, there are times that you are not doing what you should be.  The worst thing that can happen is that you are ALWAYS not doing what you should be doing.  This is definitely no good and this is definitely bad news for everyone.  You don’t deliver any productive output.  You laze around.  You get screwed by the boss… In all aspects of our lives, we have nine things that put us to a stop when we want to get something done.  What are they?

1. Fear – All of us, if not, most of us are really afraid to fail.  We fear that we don’t have the needed skill, or that others will criticize us when we fail. We are afraid of the consequences of failure, humiliation, ridicule, loss of financial or employment or social status.
2. Lack of Self-Confidence – We are afraid we will fail, even though these fears are groundless. Am I afraid because I’m really pushing my limits, or because people around me have been putting me down?
3. Lack of Knowledge – We don’t know what to do, or how or why to do it,  we see obstacles that don’t really exist or may have simple workarounds that may have been thought of when we look at issues from different angles.
4. Trying to Do Too Much Alone – We are superman no more.  Sometimes it’s good to pair up with people to work together and deliver output far greater than an individual.  True teamwork is required.
5. Trying to Do Too Much – Most of us allow ourselves to set expectations far too high for what we can accomplish well.  Also, we allow others to set unreasonable expectations on us.  Come on, do what you can.  Be conscious of what you can do and say “No’” to what you can’t.
6. Loss of Self – We can get so caught up in trying to please others.  Be it for whatever reasons; love, job promotion, sense of responsibility, that we stop pleasing ourselves.  We lost our self-worth and our true identity get wear off eventually.  Ask yourself, what is true to you?  Can you find the true self back?
7. Lack of Energy – We will feel the lack of energy when we are doing the same thing over and over again.  The mandate work and the lack of excitement definitely will bring anybody down.  Of course, we are not eliminating laziness and procrastination from the list of culprits.  Get some change in your career direction.  Be positive!
8. Lack of Reward – What is rewarding to an individual is really up to him.  Reward can come in cash, bonus, or even just a simple appreciation from the management.  Are you lacking any rewards that are stopping you from doing what you should?  If yes, think about the reward that you truly desire and if its available with the tasks assigned to you…
9. It Can’t Be Done – Now not all things can be done.  We are not the same.  Our DNAs are not the same.  Not all situations (and timing) are the same… Sometimes the task just cannot be done and we need to learn to say “No” to such tasks.  Do not worry about disappointing (or provoking) your boss when you say “No”.  It’s better to say now then later when you have to work the impossible or management expectations build up.