ALT-1 How to know when You’re being Overworked
If you find it a real struggle to motivate yourself to get out of bed in the morning because you dread the thought of having to go to work you may have a problem. Most people would probably prefer to have a day off than go to work, but when you actually start to feel anxious and distressed at the prospect of leaving for work; this could be perceived as a rather extreme reaction. If you work over eight hours a day and always seem to be busy it’s not surprising if you find yourself overworked, as you never have a minute to yourself.
When you work long, irregular hours you can find your health and relationships start to suffer, as you are always under a great deal of pressure. You fail to take steps to safeguard your health and may even engage in activities which increase the likelihood of you falling ill. Being stressed out all the time isn’t good for your physical or mental well-being and it is usually those who are closest to you that you take your frustrations and worries out on.
Being overworked can make you feel like there isn’t much point, as you can’t imagine life improving. You feel lethargic and tired, no matter how many hours’ worth of sleep you get – once you’re finally able to get to sleep. You don’t feel like doing anything and would prefer to crawl back into bed than to go for a run or eat some breakfast. You could find your weight begins to plummet, as you lose your appetite; or you may find you put on a few pounds as you use food to comfort you. You may have difficulty concentrating and making decisions when you’re overworked, as well.
Clearly, if you’re not eating healthily, taking regular exercise and getting enough sleep, this is bound to have an impact on your overall well-being. When you’re anxious and depressed you may find you would prefer not to be in the company of other people, leading you to push friends and relatives away when all they want to do is help you and offer their support. When you’re overworked, though, it can be a struggle to think clearly and to acknowledge it is dissatisfaction with your job is causing you to be miserable. However, the only way to deal with being overworked is to acknowledge it is a problem in the first place.
