Signs Work is Taking Over Your Life

If you are unable to go a single minute of the day without thinking about work, it is clear that work is starting to take over your life. This isn't a healthy situation to be in, particularly if other areas of your life are suffering. When all you can think about is work you won't be able to give your full attention to your children or partner and your obsession with work could interfere with your social life. It might be difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep, so that you're always tired and struggle to concentrate, whilst you may neglect your exercise regime and pick up increasingly bad habits, such as eating junk food and drinking too much.

If you constantly feel overwhelmed, stressed and anxious because of your work, it might be time to consider looking elsewhere for a job or at least finding a way to improve the situation you're in. This might involve talking to your boss and working fewer hours or seeking the help of a counsellor, so that you can talk through your problems with someone. What you shouldn't do is ignore a situation where work is taking over your life and you're left feeling depressed and run down all the time.

If you don't address the problem it is only going to get worse. If you really enjoy your job, you might not be that bothered if work takes over your life, but you have to remember other people in your life. Although you may be happy to keep working after everyone else has left the office, what about your children and partner? If you're single, this may not be an issue, but surely it is beneficial to take a break from work and spend some time with friends. It is generally when you are unable to switch off from work and just relax that you start to pick up bad habits and develop health problems.

It is even worse when you hate your job and dread going into work, as not only do you have to endure your time in the workplace, you might find it difficult to sleep because you're worried and nervous about having to go to work. There are a variety of reasons why you may not like your job – it could be the nature of the job; you may not like the boss; you may be the victim of bullying or sexual harassment or you may be struggling to keep up with everyone else. Whatever the reason you dislike your job, you have to find a way to stop obsessing about work and have a life outside of the office.

If you feel as though work is taking over your life and having a detrimental impact on your physical health and mental well-being you clearly have to take action, because although your job may help to pay the bills there is more to life than money. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where your health begins to suffer just because you are unable to escape from your work.