Stress Management/

I recently moved job roles within a finance company I have been with for years, this is a new assistant manager role. This is one of two new roles which have been created and filled.

Due to staffing levels and resource issues, I’ve been allocated to complete a job role, which is below my level, to support the service and the wider team. I had no knowledge of this role and have been doing this since approx October 2025. This work load has years worth of backlog which is rising.

I will admit that recently, I have shown that I am stressed, unintentionally, but I don’t want this to appear as obvious as I want to keep progressing within the company. I am not used to being this unorganised or working in this way.

The stress is a mix of, not knowing how to solve queries, and having people chase me for queries from a backlog that is not my own. There are no instruction guides to follow other than shadowing an employee for a few days before they left. There are also no other resources from current employees and the previous employees under this role have left employment. The need for more resource is obvious but does not look like it will be available in the next few months

I’m that exhausted most of the time I don’t really feel I’m contributing to meetings within the assistant manager role when these arise and I therefore feel the lack of input makes me look incapable, or inadequate.

1. How do I remain care free?

2. How do I stop becoming exhausted due to the workload? How do you guys stay focused and without stress?

3. My colleague is completing more of the assistant manager role than I am. I worry that they will be perceived as more confident as they are not stressed as they do not have the backlog that I do.

4. My managers keep telling me not to stress so there is no pressure from them directly but more so the heads of service.

5. I have stress balls galore!

Not sure if anyone can advise but thought id give it a shot!

Thanks

Sorry if this was a long post!