Overextend

To strain or push oneself, resources, or capabilities beyond a sustainable limit. This can involve taking on more commitments, responsibilities, or financial obligations than one can realistically handle.

It often leads to exhaustion, stress, or a decline in quality of work or performance. Overextending implies a lack of foresight or planning, leading to a situation where one is spread too thin, lacking sufficient time, energy, or resources to effectively meet all demands.

It frequently results in a feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to effectively manage the various aspects of one's life, finances or work.

Overextend meaning with examples

• The company's aggressive expansion strategy led them to overextend their financial resources, ultimately resulting in a severe cash flow problem and the need for drastic restructuring, causing them to lose capital and time. They neglected vital operations.
• Sarah agreed to help with numerous projects and social events, eventually realizing she'd overextended herself, struggling to meet deadlines and sacrificing her personal time and well-being, damaging her health and family life.
• The charity was praised, however they overextended their outreach program to remote villages, and with a limited number of volunteers, they were unable to provide adequate support, affecting their reputation.
• The ambitious entrepreneur decided to overextend their personal credit to launch multiple ventures simultaneously, leading to significant debt and the potential collapse of all their businesses, resulting in financial hardship.
• John accepted too many coaching clients, causing him to overextend his time and energy, resulting in burnout and reduced quality of service for everyone, negatively impacting his career aspirations.