Just when I was feeling desperate for some quiet time, I got it!  This morning has been very quiet.  I actually got to scratch off several tasks from my list! 

I now keep two lists: a list of things that I have to do myself and a list of people whose work I have to follow up.  They say that a manager's job is to achieve ends through other people.  This is case in point.  My follow-up list is longer than my to-do list. When I divide up my tasks this way, I find them less stressful because I don't feel that responsibility is solely mine.