What to Do When You’re Drowning in Admin Work

How to recognise the overwhelm and regain control.

Admin overload is common among small business owners, but ignoring it can lead to missed deadlines, poor cashflow, and burnout. If you’re constantly behind on invoicing, losing track of paperwork, or avoiding your inbox, it’s time to take action.

Start by taking stock. Set aside 30 to 60 minutes to write down all the admin tasks that are piling up — invoicing, receipts, emails, unpaid bills. Seeing it clearly is the first step to sorting it.

Prioritise essentials. Focus on anything tied to cashflow or compliance, especially tasks involving IRD or overdue client payments.

Break it into blocks. You don’t have to do it all in one go. Tackle one category at a time — even 30 minutes a day makes a difference.

Use simple systems. Templates, checklists, and cloud-based tools can make your workload easier to manage.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Elevate Office Solutions provides one-off admin catch-ups or ongoing support to keep you on top of things — so you can focus on the work that really matters.