State of Mind: Calling all workaholics: Being overworked really is unproductive, unhealthy

Chances are, at some point or another, you’ve heard a co-worker complain of their apparent necessity to skip lunches during the weekday because they’re so busy. You likely have listened to a friend lament about how they will keep their sanity when they haven’t had a day off work in months or a vacation in years. These types of conversations aren’t uncommon because the underlying belief — or perhaps the reality — that we’re all overworked and overstressed isn’t uncommon. But what if there is more to that story that also is playing an important role in the mental health of workers across the country?

Balancing work among all the demands life brings, let alone finding the time for leisure, can be tricky. Over the years, many experts have predicted steep declines in necessitated work hours each week, precipitated largely by technological advancements. In reality, Americans not only continue to function in a likely-antiquated 40-hour workweek environment, but often work even longer hours — around 200 to 400 more hours per year on average than European countries — even as worker productivity has continued to increase over the decades.

There are numerous facts that seem to support Americans’ status as overworked. Workers in the United States get less paid time off than those in other developed countries — and use only a fraction of it. More than three quarters of workers eat lunch at their desk over half of all workdays. And the United States continues to be notorious for having some of the least generous policies for vacation, sick days and parental leave in the world.

To be clear, working hard is and will always remain a virtue, with an argument easily made in support of individuals continually learning and developing skills and then employing those skills to make meaningful contributions to society.

At the same time — like most things in life — too much of any good thing can have its detriments. While there are economic circumstances, situations that might dictate extra hours on the job and individuals that may genuinely enjoy and want to work more, American workers are more commonly simply overworked. Even worse, some individuals find themselves facing work addiction or workaholism, in which one works compulsively or has an incessant preoccupation with work.

The root causes of the dynamics of being overworked or work addiction can be varied, from personality tendencies and familial values to societal norms and peer pressure. In any case, the mental health impacts of being overworked are becoming clearer through various studies, with workaholism further exacerbating those impacts. Being overworked has been shown to lead to lower job satisfaction, increased stress, increased risk of anxiety and depression, sleep problems, more work-family conflicts, lower quality of life and even an elevated risk of stroke and heart disease.

Thankfully, what is best for employees and employers is not mutually exclusive. For example, even something as simple as taking a lunch break away from work has been shown to increase productivity, engagement and job satisfaction. And employees who take regular vacations are more productive and have lower rates of absenteeism and turnover.

July 5 is National Workaholics Day. So, perhaps now is the time to commit to your own well-being when it comes to work. Be intentional about taking breaks, whether it be for lunch or a short walk around the block. Use the vacation days you’ve earned. Be purposeful about being present at home rather than checking work emails. And if you’re in a position to, set the example that balancing work among your priorities is not only healthy, but OK and even encouraged.

Bryan Busch is a licensed mental health counselor in Cedar Rapids. He also works at Folience, the parent company of The Gazette. He can be reached at bryan.busch@thegazette.com.