How to deal with urgency culture at work

If you are reading this article, there’s a good chance you have faced them—those impossibly tight deadlines at work where you feel like tearing your hair out, but you have to get the work done anyway. Most of the time, you manage to wing it; in some rare cases, the pressure gets the better of you. There’s an equally good chance that this is your everyday story.

And amidst moments like these, when you do get a little time out for a breather—you wonder about those fancy terms you were told were always a good addition to your CV and college statements of purpose; clauses like “thrive under pressure”, “good at managing deadlines”, which were supposed to be testaments to a good work ethic. You think of characters like Mike Ross from Suits and Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, who seemed to breeze through work like it was child’s play, and sometimes chuckle at how easy pop culture made some professions look. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, you look back upon shows like Succession and start to sympathise with the “incompetent” characters like Kendall Roy, who, despite their flaws, tried to rise to the occasion in an insanely competitive world.

“The culture of urgency at work has both benefits and drawbacks”, explains clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and Mind Wellness Centre director Sophia Peermohideen. “On one hand, it can bring in innovation, efficiency, and momentum, especially when responding to crises. On the other hand, if the stress is ongoing and continues for a long time, it can quickly lead to burnout, diminished mental health, and even lower productivity due to stress and fatigue.”

The issue does not just stop at deadlines, though. The high-stakes nature of such job profiles also means long hours of intense work, frequent overtimes and - you guessed it - a compromised work-life balance.

How to deal with high-stress jobs?

“I always tell clients and the younger generation that work is very crucial,” says Peermohideen, “but so is their life.” In an urgency-driven environment, setting boundaries becomes all the more important. 

Learn to identify real urgency

In a high-stakes job, it's easy to lose track and treat everything as equally important. “Many individuals respond with urgency to  everything because of workplace culture or personal expectations,” explains the psychologist. “Encourage a habit of pausing before reacting.” Knowing your work capacity is necessary, too, as you can prioritise your tasks based on how much you can have on your plate at a time.

Communication is key

Peermohideen stresses on the need for proper communication with your supervisor and the team—both for understanding which tasks are truly urgent and which can wait, as well as being upfront about your capacity for work and how much you can deliver. “Define your work hours clearly; let colleagues know you’ll respond to non-urgent messages the next day,” she adds.

Practice time blocking 

Time blocking is the practice of dividing the day into chunks dedicated to different tasks.This approach reduces multitasking, helps you stay focused, and can reduce feelings of time scarcity.

Leverage digital tools mindfully 

While digital detox is a good practice, technology can make you more productive. Setting up alerts and reminders for genuinely critical tasks can help keep you on track. Additionally, turn off unnecessary notifications to prevent digital overload and maintain focus.

Integrate rest period and breaks

From time to time, take short breaks between tasks and a longer, restorative break throughout the week. “Resting is productive”, says Peermohideen, “it allows the brain to recharge and reduces stress levels over time.

What if you are overwhelmed?

Look out for signs of burnout in an urgency-prone work environment. “One may show physical signs of stress like exhaustion, headaches, and muscle tension, cognitive effects like a shift in concentration and attention spans, fear of being judged, loss of control, helplessness or may show  emotional features like loss of appetite and sleep, irritability and mood swings.”

Peermohideen suggests the following four techniques to manage stress in real time: