Conventional wisdom says that hard work always pays off in the end but when does hardware become overworking? Clinical physiologist have long lamented that our desire to overwork is counterproductive which lends itself to some of the following:
1. Lack of sleep, anxiety and depression which creates a higher chance of a heart attack
2. Constant state of impatience and irritability most of the time
3. Huge amounts of stress which can be addicting
An article by Minda Zetlin Co-author for the ‘The Geek Gap’ published an article on Inc.com titled “10 Reasons to Stop Working So Hard” In no particular order we selected three of the most impactful reasons in the article:
“Sleep matters-The way to a more productive, more inspired, more joyful life is getting enough sleep,” Arianna Huffington said in a 2011 TED talk. She would know. She fainted from exhaustion and broke her cheekbone and is now something of a sleep evangelist. “I was recently having dinner with a guy who bragged that he’d gotten only four hours’ sleep the night before,” she continued. She considered retorting: “If you had gotten five, this dinner would have been a lot more interesting.”
You’re setting a bad example-The work schedule and tone you set for yourself will likely be mirrored by the smartest and most ambitious of your employees. What kind of leaders and bosses do you want them to be? Do you want the benefit of their brightest ideas and best judgment? Then don’t create an environment where everyone vies to see how many hours they can work without falling over.”
Most of the work is less important than you think-A few years ago, hospice worker Bronnie Ware famously published the top five regrets she heard from her dying patients. Those who’d had careers all regretted the number of hours they spent at work. But many of her patients also spoke of dreams they wished they’d fulfilled.”
At various points in our lives we all fall victim to working overtime, to complete a project with very little sleep. And while some of us can get away with it in the short run, it’s the long term health effect that catches up to us when we continue on this path.
Here are some tips for taking control of your time which can, eventually lead, to a less stressful workload by Sarah Brooks of sheknows.com:
Work smarter
When working, get rid of all distractions. This includes phones, social media apps, random internet browsing and even interruptions from coworkers.
Take breaks
Follow Martin’s advice and take 8 minutes per day for yourself, preferably more if you have time.
Be aware of how you spend your “off” time
Find ways to unwind that don’t involve watching television or surfing the net. Get outside, go for walks and get some fresh air.
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