Are you feeling tired and stressed the whole day? And does this happen everyday of your entire life? When did you remember sleeping for eight hours straight without waking up in the middle of the night to look at your Blackberry for some emails that might have come through? Can you even count the number of hours you stay at the office? Ever thought about when you had your last good meal without discussing anything from your field of work?
Chances are you are overworked.
In general, people work because they need to get paid. We all need a stable income to pay our bills, gas, rent and all the daily household expenses that we have. But some people can go overboard with working. From a 40-hour workweek, some people can go up to 80-hours which is double the hours compared what the company needs from you. Or rather, what you actually need for yourself.
It is normally a set rule why companies tell you your working hours. You have to finish all your work within the prescribed working hours so that you'll have enough time to go home and see your family. In short, you have to have a good work like balance.
But with the promotions and bonuses, we all know that with more money comes more responsibility. But when does it all end? When will you finally have the vacation that you dreamed of and saving for the past few years? When will you even have time to even see your kids awake when you come home at wee hours during the night?
Being overworked has a negative effect and may be detrimental to your health. It can cause insomnia, stress, fatigue, and may cause illnesses in the long run. It also affects your mood. Imagine, a sleep deprived stress person will definitely not have a cheerful disposition. It may also lead to depression in the future. You may experience anxiety, weight loss and even changes in your bowel movement.
Being overworked can also make you out of touch from everyone - most importantly your family and friends.
To be able to counteract all these negative effects, it is imperative that you make time for yourself and your family. You have to cut back on your working hours gradually, go home and get some rest. Go on to that vacation you've always dreamed of. Go out with your friends regularly and have a few drinks. Go home early, help make dinner and tuck your kids to bed. A little bit of change in your lifestyle might actually change you and your life for the better.
