Are You Overworked?

Pushing yourself too hard for too long can lead to difficulty sleeping, appetite changes, fatigue, and frazzled nerves as well as strained relationships. If you take work home, work through lunch, or skip vacations, you’re likely overworked. Burned–out employees have lower productivity, miss deadlines, and are more error prone. From the “easier–said–than–done” file, here are tips to avoid becoming overburdened:

• Track your time: The average American (ages 25–54) spends 8.7 hours on work, 7.7 sleeping, and 2.6 hours on leisure and sports each day. If you’re an above–average worker and an under–average sleeper/player, you’re ripe for burnout. Make sure you get 7–9 hours of sleep and include time for physical activities to help you feel refreshed and energized.

• Set business hours: Stick to your schedule. When you leave your office, leave your office. Turn off the phone, power down the computer, and disconnect from the pressures of the day.

• Delegate: Perfectionists may dread handing off work, but for your health’s sake explore opportunities to lessen your burden.

• Exercise: Make time for a brisk walk at lunch to reduce stress and increase long–term productivity.

• Lead by example: If you’re a manager, set policies that attempt to proactively prevent employee burnout.