overcommitment
Too many promises
Overcommitment is taking on more obligations than you can realistically fulfill—saying yes to too many projects, promises, or responsibilities.
The word implies a gap between what you've agreed to do and what's actually possible: Her overcommitment to volunteer work left no time for her own family.
It can describe individuals, organizations, or resources stretched too thin.
Time limit for completion
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- strainExcessive stretching force
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
demand · urgency · constraint · crunch · squeeze · intensity · tension · workload
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- engulfedCompletely swallowed up
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- overloadedBurdened past capacity
- stretchedPulled to lengthen
drowning · overextended · overrun · deluged · submerged · juggling · maxed-out · buried
Chronic occupational depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- drainedEmptied of resources
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- collapseSudden structural failure
weariness · lethargy · listlessness · debilitation · prostration · malaise · spent · worn-out
Required moral task
- promiseCommitment to act
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- pledgeBinding promise given
undertaking · engagement · liability · charge · task · assignment · vow · allegiance
Persistent apprehensive distress
- tensionStretched or strained state
- strainExcessive stretching force
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
- irritabilityProneness to agitation
worry · nervousness · distress · unease · restlessness · apprehension · agitation · fraying
deadline
Time limit for completion
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- strainExcessive stretching force
burden · demand · urgency · constraint · crunch · squeeze · intensity · tension · workload · bottleneck
swamped
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- engulfedCompletely swallowed up
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- overloadedBurdened past capacity
stretched · drowning · overextended · overrun · deluged · submerged · juggling · maxed-out · buried · besieged
burnout
Chronic occupational depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- drainedEmptied of resources
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
collapse · weariness · lethargy · listlessness · debilitation · prostration · malaise · spent · worn-out · frazzled
duty
Required moral task
- promiseCommitment to act
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- responsibilityState of being answerable
pledge · undertaking · engagement · liability · charge · task · assignment · vow · allegiance · devotion
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- tensionStretched or strained state
- strainExcessive stretching force
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
irritability · worry · nervousness · distress · unease · restlessness · apprehension · agitation · fraying · overwhelm
- productivity killersdistractions, procrastination, wasted time, multitasking, micromanagement
- Strategic Mistakesmiscalculation, overconfidence, underestimation, poor timing, overextension
- defensive mistakesexposed flank, poor footwork, off-balance, slow reaction, late shift
- burnoutburned out, burnt out, burn out, burning out, burnout
- career killersburnout, firing, layoff, job loss, demotion
- tough choicestradeoffs, compromises, sacrifices, work-life balance, needs versus wants
overcommitmentnoncommitment
Avoidance of binding decisions
disengagement · detachment · uninvolvement · half-heartedness · apathy
overcommitmentbalance
Steadiness or amount owed
moderation · restraint · sustainability · margin · slack
overcommitmentselectivity
Tendency to choose carefully
focus · discernment · intentionality · essentialism · saying no