The term 'overstretched' refers to a state in which a person, organization, or system is pushed beyond its capacity, resources, or limits. This can manifest in various contexts, such as a person taking on too many tasks leading to stress and burnout, or a company overextending its budget and operational capabilities. The overall implication of being overstretched is one of imbalance, inefficiency, and potential failure due to excessive demands.
Overstretched meaning with examples
- After taking on multiple freelance projects along with her full-time job, Maria felt completely overstretched. She barely had time for herself, causing her to lose focus and quality in both her work and personal life. It was clear she needed to reassess her commitments before burnout took its toll, as she was struggling to meet deadlines and maintain her usual standard of excellence.
- The nonprofit organization's programs expanded rapidly due to increased funding, but they became overstretched in their ability to fulfill their mission. Volunteers were overworked, and essential services began to suffer. Although their goals were ambitious and noble, the lack of adequate staffing and resources meant that the quality of support for beneficiaries was compromised.
- During the peak shopping season, the warehouse staff was overstretched, struggling to keep up with the influx of orders. Employees worked long hours, often skipping breaks to meet demand. This pressure led to mistakes in fulfilling orders and declining morale, demonstrating the risks of pushing teams beyond their limits without adequate support or planning.
- The school's administration found itself overstretched when implementing new technology in the classroom without adequate training for teachers. Many educators felt overwhelmed and ill-prepared, leading to frustration and resistance to the new programs. A balance needed to be struck between innovation and support to ensure successful integration and learning experiences for students.
- As the project deadline approached, the engineering team was overstretched with too many concurrent tasks. Although they were talented, the sheer volume of work caused them to fall behind in meeting quality standards. Recognizing this, the manager decided to redistribute tasks and extend the deadline to alleviate some of the pressure on the team.