overcommitting
Taking too much on
Overcommitting is taking on more obligations than you can reasonably fulfill.
The word applies to schedules, promises, and resources: I've been overcommitting myself at work and it's affecting my health.
In computing, memory overcommitting allocates more virtual memory than physical capacity allows.
The pattern is common enough that the warning Don't overcommit has become standard advice.
Pledging more than deliverable
- overextendingGoing beyond safe capacity
- pledgingMaking a solemn promise
- agreeingSharing the same view
- acceptingWilling to receive
volunteering · promising · booking · scheduling · stacking · overbooking · people-pleasing · accommodating
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- overloadedBurdened past capacity
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
- jugglingSequential toss-and-catch performance
besieged · buried · underwater · scrambling · maxed-out · saturated
State of utter depletion
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- drainedEmptied of resources
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
worn-out · spent · overworked · frazzled · frayed · collapse · debilitated · enervated
Time limit for completion
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
- demandsForceful requests or requirements
- strainExcessive stretching force
- tensionStretched or strained state
stress · crunch · urgency · squeeze · bottleneck · racing · rushing · last-minute
Moral self-reproach
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- cancelingRevoking a prior arrangement
- reschedulingSetting a different time
apologizing · failing · underdelivering · reputation · reliability · trust · resentment · regret
overpromising
Pledging more than deliverable
- overextendingGoing beyond safe capacity
- pledgingMaking a solemn promise
- agreeingSharing the same view
accepting · volunteering · promising · booking · scheduling · stacking · overbooking · people-pleasing · accommodating
swamped
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- overloadedBurdened past capacity
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
juggling · besieged · buried · underwater · scrambling · maxed-out · saturated
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
depleted · worn-out · spent · overworked · frazzled · frayed · collapse · debilitated · enervated · weary
deadline
Time limit for completion
- expectationsBeliefs about future outcomes
- demandsForceful requests or requirements
- strainExcessive stretching force
tension · stress · crunch · urgency · squeeze · bottleneck · racing · rushing · last-minute · self-imposed
guilt
Moral self-reproach
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- cancelingRevoking a prior arrangement
rescheduling · apologizing · failing · underdelivering · reputation · reliability · trust · resentment · regret · frustration
- bad decisionsprocrastination, impulse buying, overspending, binge eating, cramming
- bad habitssmoking, drinking, lying, swearing, gossiping
- overdoingoverdoing, overindulging, overkill, excess, overreacting
- productivity killersdistractions, procrastination, wasted time, multitasking, micromanagement
- everyday mistakesslip, typos, trip, spelling errors, fall
- overexertionoverwork, burnout, overtraining, straining, overdrive
overcommittingundercommitting
Pledging below capacity
setting boundaries · holding back · saying no · withdrawing · declining
commit, commitment, committed, committee, uncommitted, committing, noncommittal, recommit, recommitted