Why are you working crazy hours?

Why are you working crazy hours?

Performing optimally over extended periods of time requires balance; i.e., sleep, nutrition, exercise and time with friends and family.

Chronic overwork is bad for mental and physical health and can seriously jeopardize the quality of work and life. It seems that a lot of people wish they could change the way they work, but they don’t really know how.

If you are a leader who is wondering “Why am I working harder than ever?,” take a good look at yourself, the culture that has created you, and the practices you are perpetuating. Working hard can be rewarding and exhilarating. But consider how you are living. Recognize when you are driving yourself and your others too hard, and learn how to help yourself and your colleagues to step back.

Work crazy long hours when you need or want to, but do so consciously, for specified time periods to achieve specific goals. Don’t let it become a habit because you have forgotten how to work and live in a balanced way.

Also, as a leader, you have a responsibility help your colleagues to achieve their full potential and not burning out, and your ultimate “duty of care” is to yourself.


Inspired by: Harvard Business Review - If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week? By Laura Empson