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Whether you’re a solopreneur working from home or an ambitious individual in a multinational corporation, you want to succeed at all costs. But how do you find this success? You can be the first to arrive and the last to leave, you can volunteer for all the big projects that come up, or you can work from dawn till dusk every day without stopping. And this is admirable, but it’s not the answer. Working yourself into a hole comes with its risks, and you must understand these risks to make sure you don’t crash and burn.
Loss of Passion
No matter how much you love your job, overworking will only cause you to lose the passion you once had for it, and this could have disastrous effects on productivity and motivation. While it may not be evident at first, you’ll soon realize that you don’t care about anything anymore, and this will affect your work and the success of the business.
Burnout and Fatigue
They always say you cannot burn the candle at both ends, and burnout and fatigue are a genuine symptom of overworking yourself. These issues will lead to exhaustion, a drop in creativity, and a potential dip in performance, which could come back to haunt you later on.
Mental Health Issues
By working so hard, you are putting yourself under an unnecessary amount of stress, and this will hinder your professional and personal life. It’s essential to take care of your mind as much as it is your bank account, and no matter how important you might feel your job is, it is not worth the risk of putting yourself in a lousy position mentally.
So What is the Answer?
There is no number one answer or cure to overworking. However, there are still options for you to explore that will give you no choice but to remove yourself from the job and give yourself the recharge you need, even if it’s only for a little while.
Time Away
Taking a relaxing vacation to the Hollywood Hills, a road trip across the country, or an exciting ski trip will allow you to indulge in yourself for a while. There, you’ll get the chance to do whatever you love to do, which can help give you perspective on your life.
Exercise
No matter how busy you are, exercise is something that everyone should try to do. The positive chemicals released by your brain following a workout promotes happiness, creativity, and productivity. While you might feel like it is an unnecessary distraction from your work, the truth is the opposite.
Learning to Say No
Closer to the office, learning to say no to demands from your boss (within reason) will stop you from working so much. You don’t need to be rude, but you can take the time to discuss your feeling with your manager, and hopefully, they will understand.
Working And Finding Time to Yourself
It’s good to enjoy your job and want to do what you can to succeed, but this shouldn’t come at the cost of your mental and physical wellbeing. Don’t be afraid to stop, take a break, and get away now and again. When you do, you’ll come back refreshed and ready for whatever comes next.
