It’s just so easy to overwork yourself nowadays. After all, when the bills are piling up, what other option do you have? Unfortunately, working too much causes serious problems for your health and happiness—no matter how hard you try to ignore them. Let’s look at 12 signs of this & why you might want to slow down.
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Constant Fatigue
Feeling like you’re running on empty, even after a full night’s sleep, is your body’s way of waving a big red flag. If you’re always tired, no matter how much coffee you drink, you’re probably overdoing it at work. Lacking energy isn’t doing you any favors—especially since it can cause major health problems.
Difficulty Sleeping
Ironically, working too much can actually make it harder to sleep. When your brain is on a never-ending work loop, it becomes even harder to hit the off switch at bedtime because you’re lying awake, rehearsing presentations and to-do lists. That means your work-life balance is completely out of whack.
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Reliance on Stimulants
Speaking of coffee, reaching for that fourth cup of coffee just to feel normal is a red flag. Relying on caffeine (or, heaven forbid, stronger stimulants) to power through your day isn’t a sustainable solution. Sure, it might give you a temporary boost—but it’s setting you up for a crash. It also messes with your sleep.
Irritability and Mood Swings
Are you snapping at people over the smallest things? When you’re overworked, you start wearing your emotions on your sleeve—and they’re not the fun kind. Those mood swings and short fuses are your body’s way of communicating that you’re not okay with this level of stress. You need to calm down.
Neglecting Personal Relationships
When your loved ones begin to forget what you look like, then it’s time to reassess. After all, it’s rather sad when you start missing out on family dinners or bailing on plans with friends because you’re buried in work. It’s also a prime example that work is hogging all your time & energy—that’s not okay.
Physical Health Issues
Any random headaches or back pain could be because your body’s shouting for help. Even a stomachache that won’t go away is probably caused by the fact that you’re glued to your desk, stressing out for too long. Ignoring these signs can cause you to develop even bigger health issues down the road.
Decreased Productivity
Working more doesn’t always equate to getting more done — burnout often involves churning out less quality work despite burning the midnight oil. Think of your brain as being a battery. It needs time to recharge or it starts to fizzle out. As such, you need to give yourself a chance to relax.
Lack of Motivation
When the thought of work makes you want to crawl back into bed, it’s quite obvious that something’s off. Some people think it means that their passion has disappeared but really, it’s buried under too much stress.
Poor Eating Habits
Getting fast food is okay sometimes—but when you’re constantly doing it because you “don’t have time” for a proper meal – that’s your work-life balance tipping too far into the “work” side. It’s a slippery slope to feeling even more run-down. And let’s not even start on skipping meals! Good nutrition is fuel for your body & mind. Without it, both start to suffer.
Neglecting Self-Care
When was the last time you did something just for you? Can’t remember? Then you’re probably putting work before your own well-being. Self-care isn’t selfish and skipping it means you’re not giving yourself the care you deserve. You have to find time for your hobbies & exercise—or even just some quiet time.
Loss of Creativity
For most of us, our best ideas come to us when we’re relaxed, like maybe in the shower or on a walk. So when your creative well has dried up, it might be because you’re overworking. After all, creativity thrives on space & freedom—it doesn’t come from back-to-back meetings and endless to-do lists.
Constantly Checking Work Emails
Checking work emails during dinner, at your kid’s soccer game—or even in the middle of the night? If the answer is yes, it might be time to admit you’re overworking. This habit means your mind is always on the job and that you’re never fully present in the moment. Trust us, most emails can wait until morning.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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