How to Stop Long Hours from Taking Over Your Life

Three times.

That's how often you've missed family dinners this week.

You're still at your desk long after your official finish time, again. Your to-do list seems endless, and there's an unspoken expectation that you'll stay until everything is done. As a result, your personal life is starting to suffer.

You know this isn't sustainable, but you feel trapped in a cycle of endless workdays.

Do you feel pressured to work long hours?

This constant pressure to extend your workday isn't just affecting your work-life balance – it's a recognised workplace issue known as role overload. When your workload consistently requires long hours to complete, it's a sign that your work demands may have become excessive.

Understanding Role Overload

Role overload occurs when the expectations and demands of your position exceed what can reasonably be accomplished within normal working hours. This often leads to a cycle of extended hours that can impact both your work quality and personal wellbeing.

When your workload is manageable, you can complete your key responsibilities within your designated hours while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

However, when role overload leads to consistently long hours, it can have serious consequences for both you and your work.

Why It Matters

Here's why pressure to work long hours needs attention:

• It can lead to burnout, affecting your physical and mental health over time
• It damages personal relationships and prevents you from maintaining a fulfilling life outside work
• It often results in decreased productivity and poorer quality work, despite the extra hours

But you don't have to accept long hours as your new normal. There are practical steps you can take to regain control of your time.

1. Assess Your Workload

Create a detailed log of your tasks and how long they actually take, identifying what's causing the overtime.

2. Set Boundaries

Establish and communicate clear limits on your availability, including specific finish times most days.

3. Prioritise Tasks

Work with your supervisor to identify critical tasks and what can wait, ensuring your core hours focus on what matters most.

Reclaiming Your Time

Managing your working hours isn't about doing less – it's about working smarter and protecting your right to a balanced life. While some busy periods are normal, consistent long hours shouldn't be your default setting.

Long hours can creep up on the best of us, but with MOOD.ai, you can track how you feel about your working hours each day. By doing so, you’ll spot unhealthy patterns early and take proactive steps to address them.

Your time outside work is valuable.

Finding ways to maintain boundaries can help you be more effective – not only in your professional life, but in your personal life too.