OVERWORKING IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Overwork can take a toll on your health. Long hours – usually defined as more than 45 or 55 hours a week – may be linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, prediabetes and depression.

A study from the World Health Organisation found that working an average of 55 hours or more each week increases your risk of stroke by 35% and your risk of dying from heart disease by 17%,  compared to averaging a 35-40 hour workweek.

In Japanese, there is a special term for overwork – “karoshi”, which means “death from overworking”.

Don’t let too much work wear you down and affect your health.

If you find it hard to take your mind off your work even after working hours, it may be a sign that you are burned out. Being unable to disengage may lead to higher stress levels and prevent you from getting quality rest.

Get a healthy work-life balance. You’re a human, not a machine. Here are some things to keep in mind.