Managing a balance between your work and the rest of your life can be challenging under the best of circumstances, but sometimes it becomes nearly impossible. It’s important to recognize the signs that your job is negatively affecting other areas of your life and to take steps to bring about a work-life balance. So what should you be looking for, and how do you balance work and personal life? Here are five signs you’re job might be ruining your life.
“Unnatural work produces too much stress.”
– Bhagavad Gita
1. You aren’t challenged at work.
While your job doesn’t have to be the most difficult thing you’ve ever done, it should at least be stimulating. If you aren’t challenged at all, it could lead to boredom which is a perfect way to lose motivation. Unfortunately, no motivation for work can easily translate to no motivation in the rest of your life. If you feel like you’re stuck in one spot and can’t seem to move forward in any area of your life, it may be time to look at your job and decide whether it is challenging and stimulating enough.
A recent poll shows that 24 percent of people are actively disengaged with their jobs, and a lack of motivation and challenge is one big recent for this trend. If you’re feeling unmotivated at work and at home, it might be time to make a change. Maybe you could take the initiative to add additional responsibility to your current position or seek a promotion for which you are qualified. If neither of these is an option, you may want to look for another position elsewhere. Search out a job that suits your particular skills, but that will also keep you challenged.
2. You think about work when you’re at home…all the time.
Another sign that your job is taking over your life is that you are constantly thinking about it. One recent survey suggests that people spend as much as 19 hours a week thinking about what their boss thinks of them, and that’s only one aspect of work life. If you find yourself consumed with work related matters while you’re home, consider what you aren’t able to think about during these times. Try to leave work at work. It may be easier said than done, but the rest of your life will become more fulfilling and more productive if you can give it the attention that it deserves.
3. You have an overwhelming amount of job-related stress.
Dealing with stress at work is one of the most common ways your job affects your life. Stress doesn’t stop just because you leave the office for the day. It trickles down into the rest of your life. Workplace stress can lead to mental health and physical health issues which can make both work and life more difficult. The key is to manage stress before it gets out of hand. You may want to seek the advice of a mental health professional to give you guidance on ways to reduce your stress levels. Another option is to search for a new position which has less responsibilities or pressures. You don’t want your work-related stress to become a hindrance for living a full and healthy life.
4. You work too much overtime.
It might seem obvious that if you’re spending extra hours at work, you’re not spending those hours at home, but there are other factors to consider as well. Working long hours can cause fatigue, health issues, burn-out, and more. These things will affect your work performance and your life. While the money you earn working overtime may be nice, it’s important to consider all of the consequences and to balance your work and life schedule to be the most productive you can be all around.
5. You are overloaded at work.
In today’s workplace environment, it’s common to try to get more done with fewer employees thereby increasing the bottom line for companies. However, this can be terrible for your work life balance because too many priorities and seemingly unattainable goals lead to stress and anxiety, longer hours, and increased pressure. If your job demands that you take on the rolls of several positions or that you meet strict performance goals, there’s a good possibility that it will affect your life. So learn to prioritize and manage your time effectively. Concentrate on weeding out the things that are not important rather than making lists of what you need to get done. Focus on top priorities first, and then work your way down to projects that are less important. Set limits for yourself, and don’t forsake them. Be fair and work hard, but also be responsible for your own well-being.
Final thoughts.
Managing a work life balance is a challenge, but it is not an impossibility. Be aware of the signs that might mean your job is ruining your life, and actively seek to change any situations that might be upsetting the balance. Work within the parameters of your current position to better the situation, search out professional guidance for managing stress and anxiety, speak reasonably to your bosses and superiors about making adjustments to your position, or change jobs entirely. Whatever avenue you choose to take, make work-life management a priority, and you’ll have a great chance at professional and personal success.
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