Hard work vs. Overwork
A management consultant might seem an unlikely candidate to address the issue of overwork, considering that, in my past, I routinely logged 80-90 hour workweeks. However, I have witnessed first-hand the harm overworking can cause.
Don’t get me wrong – hard work is a good thing. But when it transforms into overwork, it becomes dangerous.
Determining the boundary between hard work and overwork isn’t always straightforward. Working 50 hours a week may be hard work, and working 80 hours a week may be overwork. But it is not just the number of hours that determines overwork.
When I was overworked, there never seemed to be enough time in the day to do all the things that needed to be done. I started with my to-do list in the morning, and by evening more items got added to the list than I managed to complete during the day.
Worse still, I could not stop thinking about work – even on weekends. If I took time to do something other than work, I felt guilty that I was not working! This was when I knew I was overworking.
Other signs of overwork are missing personal events (birthdays, parties, etc.) for work, checking your emails while socializing, and dreading Sunday evenings.
Is overworking bad?
Of course, overworking is bad!
There is the obvious harm it does to your health – lack of sleep, no time to exercise, increased stress, etc. People working more than 54 hours a week are at significant risk of dying from overwork. So the phrase ‘working yourself to death’ is literally true.
An often overlooked consequence of overwork is its propensity to reduce individuals to one-dimensional beings. You tend to become good at just one thing (work) at the expense of everything else (hobbies, sports, relationships, etc.).
At some point, you will leave your job. And if the only thing you are good at is your job, what will you do after you retire?
Surprisingly, overworking is not good for your employer either. Numerous studies have shown that overworking results in decreased productivity and diminished work quality.
The willing horse is always overworked.
Charles Darwin
Why do we overwork?
Given all the reasons above, why do so many of us overwork?
From a young age, we are taught the virtues of hard work, like the story of the ant and the grasshopper. We are taught to work hard like the ant and not sit idle like the grasshopper.
We are told that achieving anything in life takes hard work. Be it good grades, success at work, reaching the pinnacle in sports, etc.
At some point, working hard flips to overworking. This typically happens when we associate our identity with our work.
Associating identity with work
More than anything else, our job defines who we are. Someone may be a mother, a wife, a painter, and a hundred other things. And she may also happen to work at a bank. But when asked ‘What do you do?’ – the answer most likely will be ‘I am a banker’.
I was no different. When asked what I do – I used to reply, “I am a Management Consultant. I help companies deal with their strategic issues”. Once you associate your identity with work, it becomes impossible not to overwork!
If your job defines who you are – then you want to excel at your job. After all, that is who you are! Even if it means working 80 hours a week.
Today’s jobs are also different than a generation ago. Back in the day, when people produced widgets in a factory, there was an objective way to measure output. So if you were good at your job, you would make more widgets.
In the knowledge economy, everyone’s work and output is different. Comparing, or even measuring output, is difficult. So, the only way to compare employees is the input (how many hours they are working)!
We tend to overwork as a means of self-escape, as a way of trying to justify our existence.
Josef Pieper
What to do?
So, what can we do? Well, this depends on what type of overworking situation you are in:
1. Self Imposed
In this case, you overwork because you want to do the best work possible / you want that promotion / you don’t want to let your team down / you want to become CEO by 45 / etc. Or maybe you are seeking fulfillment from work that needs to be met somewhere else.
No matter the reason, the only way to deal with this is to change your thinking. Look at all the detrimental effects of overwork on your life and decide if it is worth it.
Unless you are solving world hunger, you can afford to work less!
2. Corporate Culture
Overworking can be part of the company culture. Everyone around you may be proud of how they worked all weekend, spent all night working, etc. In this case, talk to your manager and explain that you value other things in life in addition to your work.
But honestly, the better option is just to find another job (or become financially independent). Don’t let fear or a false sense of loyalty keep you wedded to a toxic environment.
In the immortal words of Elsa, you have to ‘Let It Go’.
3. Addiction
Someone can be addicted to working, and that can lead to overwork. Solving a complex problem can provide a lot of satisfaction. Similarly, completing a project successfully or landing a big deal can be a great feeling.
However, once the deal is done, there is always the next deal and then the one after that. There is no shortage of work for those who seek it in today’s workplace.
It is almost like Candy Crush – there is always the next level! And just like Candy Crush, there is no end to it – unless you decide to do something else.
Related Article: In praise of leisure (or Why doing nothing is hard, but important)
In conclusion
If you find yourself caught in the grip of overwork, recognizing it and initiating change can be challenging.
Nevertheless, identifying the root cause that drives you to overwork is the first step toward regaining balance in your life. Best of luck in your journey to a healthier and more balanced life!
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Fantastic article.
Thank you!
In our system we go for overwork and not for hard work. Hardworking is systematic efforts and overworking is what we are doing in government and in private companies. We don’t give respect for hard working people but consider only those as a good workers who are overworking without asking questions.
Yes. Hopefully, things change and we start recognizing that overwork is not good for anyone.