Overwork: Why Is It Bad for You and Your Business

How many of you have heard an executive saying these words:

“I usually get up around 7 or 8 a.m after I have had a good night’s sleep. I believe that it is crucial to rest as much as you can, especially at night, to be able to make the right decisions throughout the day. I know that most leaders start their day extremely early, but honestly, this doesn’t work for me.

Also, I always make sure that I work for around 40 hours a week, no more, no less, and I never work on weekends. There are a few reasons why I stick to this schedule. Besides work, I have my private life, a family which means a world to me, and friends I like to hang out with from time to time. I believe my private life helps me recharge my batteries, get ready for another working week, and actually makes me more efficient and productive daily.

Also, I must say that if I constantly go to my office early in the morning around 6 a.m and leave work around 9 p.m, this sends a message to my employees that it is OK to work overtime and even desirable. This consequently may put a lot of strain on my colleagues and make them overwork. In other words, this can make them believe that this kind of attitude towards work is “the right way”. But it isn’t.”

In reality, for most leaders and employees, the first 40 hours of work each week are much more worth than the next 20, 30, 40 hours. However, keep in mind that those extra 20, 30 hours a week can significantly harm your private life and even have a bad impact on your health. If you experience burnout, it won’t do any good for you, your family, your friends, colleagues, and the company itself. Everyone loses. “

So, have you met any executive who said this? 

Let me take a wild guess? You haven’t.

The reality is quite different. Most of the executives usually say that they get up around 5 o’clock, arrive at their office at 6 a.m and work between 12 and 16 hours a day. Of course, their working day doesn’t end once they come home. They usually spend their evening answering emails and doing all the things that they haven’t had time to complete during their working day.

With such a dynamic lifestyle all of us live today, it’s unfortunately somewhat normal to see leaders, executives, bosses, and some regular employees working this hard. But, it’s beyond doubt that they would be more efficient and their life more enjoyable and fulfilling if they cut down their time at work. In this way, they would be able to see things more clearly, focus on things that matter, and have enough time for both family and friends. After all, isn’t that what life is all about? We can’t expect to be happy if we spend 24/7 at work. Things simply don’t go that way. Bottom line: this cult of overwork has got to stop.

Despite the widespread belief that if you work overtime, you will achieve better results, working your but off is actually equally bad for people and business.

Change the formula, and you’ll reap amazing benefits!