Unhappy and Overworked!

When Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer recently banned Yahoo employees from working from home, it fired up a heated national conversation about work-life balance. It makes sense that this issue would hit people in such an emotional way; Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, a country where so many people were dying of stress-induced heart attacks and strokes that a new term was coined - karōshi, death by overwork. Here in the U.S., 86 percent of men and 67 percent of women work more than 40 hours per week, 70 percent of children have parents who both work, and more than 90 percent of American parents report work-family conflict.

Unfortunately, a lack of work-life balance can lead to serious health problems and lower quality of life. Stress is the #1 cause of health problems in the U.S., and a lion's share of that stress comes from our propensity to tipping the scales towards work and not enough towards 'life.' Leaving work at work and prioritizing exercise, hobbies, and enjoying personal time with friends and family is vital for maintaining a balanced life.

So what's the root of our overworking? Occasionally it's due to external factors entirely out of our control, but very often if we're honest, our overworking is self-imposed. We've overcommitted, said 'yes' a few too many times and put too much on our plate. We all have different reasons for doing this, but fear is often at the root of these decisions.

Here are some common fears and some helpful reminders when trying to get your life back in balance:

• If I don't work harder, I'll be let go. You might feel the pressure to maintain an aura of constant busyness to prevent the boss from thinking that they can function without you. Ironically, this can actually lead to a lack of productivity. Studies show that overworking actually makes you less effective, and our desire to be perceived as being 'busy' can override our desire to do good work. When you're struggling with this, think of a few great leaders that you know. They tend to have a work-life balance, don't they? Working hard and doing a good job is important, but to ensure that your work is effective and that you don't burn out, make sure that you are taking breaks, eating meals, and leaving at a reasonable hour.
• I need the money! Maybe you've been through a time of lack and now that there's work to be had you're taking as much of it as you possibly can to earn a higher commission or a big raise. Our culture teaches that money can buy happiness, so we're afraid that we won't be happy unless we make as much as possible. However, problems at work go home with us and vice-versa; so if you are working so much that it's causing problems in your personal life, no amount of money is going to fix that. Money doesn't buy happiness! Having a balance will actually enable you to enjoy the fruits of your labors.
• My colleagues won't understand. You know you should leave on time to get to your personal training or to bring your kids to a playgroup, but you're afraid that your colleagues will resent you if you leave before they do. When this is an issue, remember that people prefer to work with others that are balanced. It's no fun to be around someone who is constantly spinning their wheels and going in a million directions. Make sure that while you are at work, you are focused on work and not dividing your time by dealing with personal matters while on the clock. That will serve your colleagues much better than staying an hour or two late and adding to the stress in the workplace.

And remember, our work is important but no-one on their death bed has ever been reported as saying, "I wish I'd have spent more time at work!"

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