Overworking
Overworking occurs when someone works too hard or for too long, frequently going beyond what is healthy or sustainable. It’s also commonly known as ‘workaholism’. Because the body and mind don't get enough sleep, it can result in stress, burnout, and even physical health issues. People who take on too many jobs or refuse to take breaks because they believe it will speed up their accomplishments are susceptible to overworking. For example, imagine Tiya, who works 12 hours a day without taking weekends off, skipping meals and sleeping to meet deadlines. Eventually, she feels exhausted and loses focus, and her productivity drops, showing the downside of overworking.
Human tendencies that can cause a person to overwork
There can be many reasons driving people to overwork. It may be that they like to do so or maybe they’re trying to avoid some thoughts. Let’s explore these below:
Monetary Pressures
The drive to overwork often comes from financial pressures. People may take on extra hours or additional jobs to pay off debts, save for future goals, or maintain a certain lifestyle. However, constantly chasing higher earnings can trap individuals in a cycle of exhaustion. They might feel the need to keep working harder to secure job promotions or avoid layoffs. While extra income can provide short-term relief, it can come at the cost of long-term well-being. The irony is that, in the pursuit of financial stability, health expenses from stress and burnout might increase, offsetting the gains.
Career Pressure
Another major factor contributing to overwork is career demands. Professionals may feel pressured to live up to unrealistic standards, prove themselves in a competitive setting, or be available all the time in order to be recognized or promoted. People worry that if they slow down, they will miss out on chances or get overshadowed by their peers. This continuous career focus can eventually diminish creativity and job satisfaction. Overworking can backfire, resulting in burnout, poor performance, and even career decline as mental and physical health decline, even when people do it to advance in their careers.
Familial Pressures
Overworking may also be a result of family responsibilities. As a main provider for the family, many people may feel the pressure to provide enough for their family and if the profits increase from working extra hours, they take it on. However, they fail to realize that working extra hours means spending less time with their family, no matter how comfortable of an existence they are receiving. Monetary gains can not replace familial presence. In such a circumstance, working long hours can mean spending less time with family, which can strain bonds, cause emotional distance, and lead to feeling guilty. On top of that, most times, they may also be unable to attend important family events due to the pressure of work, which can further undermine their relationships.
It is important to realize that the above factors are external ones, they come from outside influences, and drive people to overwork due to societal and relational pressures. Apart from these, there are internal factors as well, which are even stronger than external ones and give us even more of an insight into why people use overworking as a coping mechanism.
Internal Factors
Escaping Personal Problems
Interpersonal troubles, mental health issues or emotional distress may lead to people overworking. As a way to not think about their problems, it’s common for people to divert their attention by keeping themselves busy. Being constantly busy gives them a moment's respite from unpleasant feelings or circumstances that they might not know how to deal with. Although this coping strategy provides temporary respite, it doesn't address the underlying issues, which may worsen over time. Overworking eventually leads to increased stress and the reemergence of unresolved personal difficulties, which exacerbates emotional tiredness and results in an unsatisfactory work-life balance.
Seeking Validation and Self-Worth
Overworking becomes a means for some people to feel worthy or to get approval. In a fast-paced environment where productivity is frequently rewarded with success, people may put in excessive hours to prove their worth to coworkers, bosses, or even themselves. The incentives or recognition they receive may momentarily enhance their self esteem, which will briefly satisfy an emotional need. However, this dependence on approval from others to determine one's value is a shaky basis. When they are unable to continue their overachievement, the continual demand for acceptance can eventually lead to more stress and feelings of inadequacy.
Gaining a Sense of Control
People who overwork may feel more in control of their lives when things are unclear. Work can provide a steady and predictable outlet when life feels chaotic, whether as a result of personal, financial, or global conditions. People who put a lot of effort into their work may feel as though they have control over one area of their lives, which gives them a fictitious sense of security. However, this can lead to a dependence on work for a sense of stability, which can result in deeper stress when work-related issues become overwhelming or unmanageable. In the end, overworking in an effort to obtain control backfires and increases instability.
Reducing Emotional Stress
People may use overworking as a coping mechanism to dull or repress emotional stress. Some people use their jobs as a diversion from intense emotions like grief, rage, or anxiety. They avoid facing their feelings head-on by remaining busy all the time, using work to "fill the gap" where emotional processing should take place. Because the attention is diverted from internal difficulties by the concentration on work and goals, this might offer momentary comfort. But if people don't deal with their emotional stress head-on, they could discover that it accumulates over time, eventually resulting in burnout, health problems, and emotional collapses.
How can a person maintain a work-life balance?
1. Know your goals/ values
Take some time to consider the things that are most important in your life. What is it—career advancement, family, hobbies, health, or community service? You can lay the foundation for effectively managing your time by making your values and goals for the future clear. When goals are specific and realistic, they are easier to achieve. Divide your larger goals (such as getting fitter, moving up in your work, or spending more time with your family) into more manageable, smaller steps. When every goal is linked to your basic beliefs, it becomes simpler to devote your time and effort to things that are truly important.
2. Time organising
Find a method that helps you stay on top of your tasks, whether it's a digital calendar, a paper planner, or a straightforward to-do list. Make sure you have enough time for work, family, and personal interests by setting up specified time blocks for every task or project.
Decide on two to three major priorities every day. You can feel more accomplished and have more mental space for the remainder of the day if you do your most important activities first. Taking short breaks during the day is essential. To avoid burnout and sustain productivity, try the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25 minutes of concentrated work followed by a 5-minute break.
3. Set boundaries
Set a defined start and end time for your workday and let your family and coworkers know what these times are. It can be easier to mentally distinguish between work and leisure time if you know when your workday starts and finishes. The ability to decline more job or social obligations when your schedule is full is frequently necessary for setting limits. If saying "yes" will interfere with your capacity to attend to other obligations or take care of yourself, it's okay to respectfully decline.
4. Prioritize Me time
Make time for self-care a priority in your schedule. Set aside time for hobbies, physical activity, meditation, or just spending some quiet time reading a book—anything that helps you relax and recharge. Make an effort to include mindfulness exercises in your everyday schedule. Focus, resilience, and relaxation can all be improved by setting aside even 5–10 minutes to check in with yourself through meditation or breathing techniques.
Conclusion
Recognizing that overworking won't fix emotional problems is necessary to make a healthy adjustment when it is being utilized as a coping strategy. People can gradually find balance by establishing boundaries, putting self-care first, and getting help. Making time for personal well-being can be achieved by taking small actions like taking breaks, assigning duties to others, and engaging in mindfulness exercises. Moreover, dealing with emotional stress head-on rather than suppressing it in work promotes better behaviors. Without compromising their own time or wellbeing, this change enables people to be more focused, productive, and emotionally resilient.
