Is working too much the best option? 3 reasons to be careful.

Overwork is becoming increasingly romanticized: "Only those who work hard can get ahead!"; "Work while they sleep!"; "Be productive!" And with phrases like these, working too much has become normal, while resting has become wrong. 

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Have you ever felt guilty for taking a day off to rest, even if it's the weekend?

If your answer was yes, it's very likely that you are working excessively. 

And here, we're not even going to talk about meritocracy, or how much work ennobles man, but rather how a lack of limits can lead to illness, and something that wasn't even a problem can turn into a physical disease! That's scary, isn't it?

Therefore, in this post you will understand:

  • How do I know if I'm working too much?
  • Working too much is synonymous with burnout syndrome.
  • How to stop overworking
  • 3 reasons to be careful about overworking

How do I know if I'm working too much?

Identifying whether you're working too much or not is more difficult than it seems; after all, we often consider a routine that's far beyond reasonable to be "normal," simply because we've adapted to it. 

The result is responding to work messages late at night, thinking everything is fine, or not respecting your rest time to deal with things that can wait until Monday, or simply sleeping and waking up thinking only about what you have to say related to your profession. 

Suddenly, family took a backseat and you didn't even realize it. The hobbies you used to enjoy no longer fit into your routine; after all, you don't have time anymore. You're not reading books and your routine is becoming increasingly rigid. 

It sounds like a sad story script, but it's the life of one person. workaholic who dedicates 100% to work! 

And working too much has more drawbacks than benefits. In the following lines, you will understand why. 

Working too much is synonymous with burnout syndrome.

One of the consequences of overworking is burnout syndromeAccording to the website Tua Saúde, burnout syndrome is the peak of physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion, resulting from significant stress generated by work or studies. 

The worst part is that it's more common than it seems. Anyone who has to deal with high-pressure or high-responsibility situations every day is susceptible to developing burnout syndrome if they don't set limits. 

BURNOUT SYNDROME
CONTINUE

Symptoms of burnout syndrome

Symptoms of burnout syndrome include:

  • Pessimism and negativity even when things are going well.
  • Lack of motivation, energy
  • Lack of concentration
  • Feeling of incompetence
  • Difficulty saying no and always prioritizing others.
  • Trends toward isolation

And some other situations that can vary from person to person, mostly related to emotions. 

It is a fact that, in addition to all these symptoms, a person who works excessively and has burnout syndrome also ends up developing overweight – or underweight, a sedentary lifestyle, body aches without apparent cause, and stomach pains. 

All this happens because work takes priority, and basic things like healthy eating end up taking a back seat. "I eat what I can, I don't have time." 

This is a very big danger, because the person who works too much ends up eliminating important things from their routine in order to finish a certain project or perform their job more diligently. 

The result is impaired health. 

How to stop overworking

And then the question arises: how can I stop working so much if my routine is so demanding?

It's impossible to say that reorganizing your schedule is easy; after all, some days we wish we had 30 hours at our disposal to resolve all our professional or personal matters. 

However, we need to set boundaries, learn to say no, and understand what is truly a priority in our lives. When work comes first, we realize that our time comes second. 

And in the end, the money earned through all that effort cannot be enjoyed to the fullest, because there won't be enough time for it: you'll be working. 

In this context, is it understandable that the numbers don't add up?

So, the first step to avoid overworking is to set limits, both for yourself and others, so that you can have specific times for yourself and your loved ones. 

Watching your children grow up, doing an activity you enjoy, sleeping 8 hours a night—these aren't trivial things, but rather necessary for you to become increasingly productive. 

Setting boundaries can be difficult when people are already used to your fast service, but over time you'll find that those boundaries will be respected, provided, of course, that you respect yourself first. 


3 reasons to be careful about overworking

By now, you've surely understood how harmful overworking is, and how much you lose by not setting limits on your working hours. 

But now, let's clearly illustrate 3 reasons why you should be careful about overworking. 

Jobs may change, but your principles remain the same.

Often you dedicate so much time to overworking that you forget that what truly remains in your life is the family that is with you and the good things you manage to do in between. 

The only family that accepts you, regardless of your situation, is the one to whom you haven't dedicated enough quality time. 

No amount of money can restore failing health.

Even if you have the best health insurance plan, the time you'll spend trying to recover your health is significant, and it's not worth spending hours and hours without rest. 

Unfortunately, money can't buy everything, and when it comes to well-being, having money may not be enough. 

It is your rest that makes you more productive.

Have you ever noticed that you have brilliant ideas while having that casual conversation at the bar, or that it's much more enjoyable to start a workday after getting a good rest and doing things you enjoy?

Therefore, it makes no sense to dedicate oneself to a life workaholicWithout rest or breaks. If your work is so important to you, think of rest as a tool to keep you productive and profitable. 

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