What Is ‘in the Weeds’?

In the weeds is an expression used to describe a person who is overwhelmed with activities or tasks. It can refer to someone who is overworked and preoccupied with immediate tasks or being centrally focuses on work that needs to be accomplished without taking into consideration the big picture.

Examples of ‘in the Weeds’

For example, if you are starting your first job out of college and are trying to stay on top of the day-to-day tasks and paperwork, you may find yourself “in the weeds” and having difficulty keeping your eyes on the bigger goals of your role and career. You may find yourself staying late, working extra hard to complete tasks that don’t bring you closer to those goals.

Another example may be a manager who is so focused on the tiny details that he or she is unable to see the larger view and make the best decisions for the company based on the big picture.

In the Weeds and the Job Market

No matter what job you are entering in today’s job market, it is important to keep the big picture in mind rather than getting caught up in the details. You want to show off your skills and demonstrate that you can make decisions that help the company reach its goal. Being able to recognize when you are in the weeds and the need to step back, can help you get ahead in the work force and allow you to be even more successful in your career.