The Rise of Admin Life Burnout

There’s a TV ad doing the rounds this year that shows a young man trying to order a takeaway. You might think this is a simple enough thing to do, but of course it’s not. He has to enter a password, and he forgets the password, and then he gets sent a code to reset his password. And so it continues until presumably his head explodes or he settles for toast.

The ad is for banking software designed to help us pay with one click, because the irony is that in this supposedly streamlined digital age, we have more admin than ever. And it’s driving us mad.

Where did all the life admin come from?

It’s a good question. We’re told that life is easier than ever. We’ve got everything at the tap of a button. And so why does it all feel so overwhelming? Perhaps it’s that it is all at the tap of a button.

Now we’re under pressure to act fast. If something doesn’t work immediately, we panic. If we can’t access the information we need as soon as we want it, we feel stressed. For anyone neurodivergent, this information overload can be paralysing.

Add to this the sheer volume of life admin. Once upon a time, keeping up with the family meant a call to your parents on Sundays and Christmas cards to cousins. Now it’s endless WhatsApp group chats, Facebook groups, text messages. Even dating apps feel like admin. Looking for your soul mate? Fine, as long as you don’t mind swiping, scrolling and messaging endlessly.

How to cut down the noise

If you’re feeling burnt out by your life admin, you’re not alone. More and more people are feeling overwhelmed by the noise of modern life. It feels impossible to escape from, but there are ways to help make it manageable.

Ringfence your time

If you’re finding you’re constantly checking in on email, social media and WhatsApp, set yourself some boundaries. Turn off notifications and instead set yourself a window (or two) of time every day to check in. The rest of the time, don’t look. Sounds easy right? It is, but only with practice. Our brains have been trained to be permanently alert, so we need to retrain them to step back.

Simplify admin where you can

Are there jobs that could be more automated? Food shopping is a good example – add your staples to a list and add that list to your online grocery shop every week to save time and effort. It seems small, but a lot of small changes can add up. Think about bigger changes too. Wondering how to sell a home fast without it feeling like a huge chore? Look at cash buying companies. You’ll get a guaranteed offer and can choose your own completion date, removing the conventional drawn-out process.

Set a timer

A classic strategy that works! Break big admin tasks into stages and set a timer, even if it’s just for ten minutes. The first ten minutes are the hardest, and you may find you carry on once you’ve overcome the first hurdle.

Modern life admin can feel overwhelming, but being aware of it is the first step. Start small and you can regain control.