Why Overworking Is Bad For Your Health (And Who's to Blame)

 By Ann Meacham, adapted from Lindsay Kolowich.  Read the full article

As handy as the Internet and our mobile devices are, they often mean that we are seldom “unplugged.”  We work hard at the office; finish a tough project, head for home, and a many of the issues follow us.

Working overtime has become the norm for many people. It's one of those things everyone knows is bad for us, but we do it anyway. The challenge is that overtime is bad for employees, employers, AND business.

HOW OVERWORK HURTS YOUR HEALTH - It can:

• Keep you from getting enough sleep

• Prevent you from keeping good habits

• Hurt your heart

• Cause heavy drinking

• Increase the risk of Type 2 Diabetes

• Overall our mental state can have a huge impact on how our body feels.

HOW IT HURTS YOUR BUSINESS

Avoidable mistakes are made. When people are exhausted, everything in the office becomes more difficult including interpersonal communication, judgment, understanding others and managing their own emotional reactions.  These can spell workplace disaster.

Significant drop in productivity after 8 hours. (at 9 hours fatigue and fuzzy thinking take over.)  Employees may miss a critical deadline because they are just too tired to make it work. One study showed that employers can’t tell the difference between people who actually work 80 hrs. a week and those who pretend to.

People lose sight of the bigger picture (why we’re doing this) and get lost in a myriad of details. Breaks and time with our friends and loved ones can recharge our brains and engage clear thinking.

WHO’S TO BLAME?

Bosses? They often expect their people to work long days and be available 24/7 – sometimes even on vacation. (What about that smartphone?)  They are usually working crazy hours themselves and feel it’s okay to expect the same from their people.

Ourselves?  Most of us put the pressure on ourselves in order to prove something to ourselves and others.  We feel needed, important, and are demonstrating our commitment to our work.  Working long hours can feel rewarding even if we feel stressed, mad, or unwell.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The answer is simple and perhaps not easy.  Notice how you feel. If work is interfering with your physical, mental or emotional health, it’s time to think of another way to get things done.  

1. Examine your priorities.
2. Enlist help. 
3. Re-organize.  

There is always a way to make things better.  It's your choice.

 Ann Meacham is president of Leadership Dynamics. Check out her Leadership Coaching Program or Dynamic Leader Program on her website or email: ann@leadyourteams.com

Systematize to Maximize Future Business Potential

 

Being organized and having a system in place to manage your leads can not only bring in more business but can also better assure potential business doesn’t “fall through the cracks”.

There are two systems to be sure you have in place. One to keep track of leads and another to have an automated plan in place to market to them on a systematic basis. One great software program can handle this as well as merging mailing, automating e-mails and others forms of contact.

Your Data Base

If you have not already done so, begin keeping track of all “potential” speaking engagements and log all pertinent information into your data base. This may include places you have previously been a speaker for, places you have talked to about speaking but they have not yet hired you, referrals you were given, etc. Be sure to include:

o   Name of the company

o The date you started connecting with them

o    How/where you first connected with them

o    Name of your contact there and their position with the company

o    Type of company or organization they are - what do they do?

o   Contact information including phone, e-mail, mailing address, web site, etc.

o   Type of events they need a speaker for, i.e. national conference, small office meetings, etc.

o        Dated notes of all discussions, e-mails and any other contact you have with them

Your system

While building your data base, develop your written plan for how you will manage this information and maximize its marketing potential.

·            -  How many names are manageable to keep in the system?

·            -  When/how often will you contact them?

o   Monthly, Quarterly, Annually, other

·             -     How will you contact them?

o   E-mail

o   Traditional mail

o   Phone call

o   Connect on social media

o   News letter

o   Holiday card or letter

o   A combination of these or some other way

·           -  How long will you keep them in your system? When do you purge them from the list?

Software options

What software or program will you use to manage this most efficiently and effectively? A few to consider include Krux, Act, Intuit and there are many others you can find by asking other business owners what they use and searching on the internet.

Monitoring for success

Set specific time in your calendar or the calendar of your staff to work on and manage your system. To be efficient and effective someone should be touching base with this at least quarterly.

About Nancy D. Butler

Nancy, a national motivational speaker, business coach and award-winning author, has been quoted in many local and national publications including USA Today, Money Magazine, Playboy magazine, The Chicago Tribune, AARP and The Day and has been a speaker for major corporations such as Pfizer, General Dynamics and Dow Chemical. Nancy has also been a guest on several television and radio shows.

Contact Nancy for a free consultation at nbutler@aboveallelse.org.