In this article Legiant looks at how stress and overwork negatively impact productivity, morale and corporate health in the workplace.

Stress and overwork are terms commonly heard in the business world. Even though some people believe that stress helps them work better and working lots of hours is great, it’s actually damaging to both your health and your business. It’s common for people to view people who work too much as heroes in the business community, but not allowing yourself time outside of work can have numerous negative effects.

Many people take overwork very lightly and see it as “the more hours you work the better it is for the business” when in fact, studies have shown that the first 40 hours a week are worth much more to the company than the next 20 or 30 thirty extra hours. Some executives work sixteen hour days, getting up incredibly early, leaving the office very late, and taking plenty of calls on the drive to and from work. All of this work makes it difficult to have any personal time to relax and recharge your batteries so you can return to work feeling motivated and ready to be productive. Arriving at the office at 6am and leaving at 9pm sends a signal to other employees that this is what is acceptable and expected at this company, when it most definitely shouldn’t be. Working too much can pose many stress-related health risks as well as damage personal relationships outside of work. People who work in the medical field as doctors, surgeons or nurses are more and more likely to make potentially life-threatening mistakes for every hour extra that they work. In 2008, an overworked medical staff made approximately 4,000 avoidable errors in a year. Even though not everyone’s job has the safety of others depending on their success, errors made by anyone due to overwork can be major and difficult to clean up. So, instead of working those extra thirty hours a week, take some time to prioritize things so you can fit your work into a more reasonable amount of hours.

If you work in a place where stress is considered a helpful motivator, you might need to take a step back. Stress causes terrible damage that can be both physical and mental. Even if you think your stressful work environment helps you get everything done, you might need to think about your health for a moment. People who experience chronic stress are more likely to develop stomach problems, sleep problems, heart disease, depression, obesity, and skin conditions such as excema. Your body cannot distinguish between physical and psychological threats, so if you’re stressed over your busy work schedule your body is likely to react as it would in a serious life-or-death situation. In many cases, stress seems to sneak up on people and sink in so slowly that you might not even notice until one day you break down. The breakdown response could be in an agitated, depressed or a tense frozen response. In one case an employee at an IT company got so stressed that he had a stroke. The man went to the hospital and returned a few days later and had another stroke the day he returned. Your stress levels may not be causing you any physical harm yet, but if it builds up enough it definitely will.

The best way to avoid overworking and getting stressed out is to manage your time efficiently. Make to-do lists to keep yourself on track. It might not seem very helpful but it will keep you focused and aware of what has to get done that day. The to-do list can also help you stay on a 40 hour work week schedule. Another thing you can do is actually use your vacation time if the company you are working for offers it. Taking a few days off here and there can reduce stress and keep you from working too much. If your company uses an automated time and attendance system, plan out your vacation days months in advance so you can guarantee that you will get the time off and you don’t have to stress about having a last minute leave request approved. If you feel like you have no time during the day and you don’t think you could ever fit your work week into forty hours, write down everything you do and how long it took you to complete that task. You might notice that you’re spending a combined two hours taking coffee breaks or socializing with coworkers! If you have it written down in front of you, it’s much easier to see exactly where your time is going.

Stress and overwork can be damaging and costly for both businesses and employees within the business. Don’t let yourself slip into a stressed, overworked breakdown. Prioritize your responsibilities and keep your health in check and you may find that you’re much happier and even more productive than you were before.