7 Worst Habits Of Workaholics

There's no doubt that times are tough. But if you're tempted to try and show your value by working harder and longer, be sure to include a healthy dose of self care - otherwise success may come with an expensive price tag - your health.

"Many people feel like they have to push themselves to unhealthy levels in order to succeed. But high-pressure jobs and long hours take a real toll on your immediate and future health," says George Griffing, M.D., professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University. Here, according to Griffing are the seven worst habits to watch out for in these workaholic times.

1. Forgetting to relax: While some stress can be good because it keeps you alert and motivated, too much stress or chronic stress will take its toll on your body contributing to headaches, upset stomach, sleeping problems, muscle tension, weight gain/loss, high blood pressure and chest pains.

2. Eating on the go: A healthy, balanced meal of complex carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables is exactly what you need to stay mentally sharp throughout the day. Beware of frozen meals, fast food and processed food; they can be high in sodium, calories and fat.

3. Putting off sleep for work: Even busy professionals need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Skimping on sleep can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and poor judgment. It has also been linked to obesity.

4. Not making time for exercise: Humans were not designed to sit at desks for eight hours or more a day. Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise most days is very important to your immediate and future health. In addition to reducing the risk for nearly every major disease, exercise has been shown to help fight anxiety and depression.

5. Working even when sick: Everyone has heard, "Don't come to work if you're sick," yet that's exactly what many do. Whether you're worried about jeopardizing your job in an unstable economy or just anxious about getting behind, there are three common sense reasons to stay home: Nobody wants your germs, you'll be less productive and you need your rest to get better.

6. Drinking (too much): Research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption can reduce your risk for everything from heart disease to rheumatoid arthritis, with "moderate" being the key word. In general, men should have no more than two drinks per day (1.5 oz. of spirits, 5 oz. of wine or 12 oz. of beer) and women who are not pregnant should limit themselves to one drink per day.

7. Skipping annual medical checkups: In order to detect problems early, you need to know what's going on in your body. Depending on your age, family history and lifestyle, consider a comprehensive medical checkup and special screenings every one to five years. Consult with your doctor for more information.

"Eventually, something's going to give. If you keep burning the candle at both ends, the flame will burn out," Griffing said. "But if you maintain a healthy balance, you will be happier and healthier overall."

Karen Leland is author of the recently released books Watercooler Wisdom: How Smart People Prosper In the Face of Conflict, Pressure and Change and Time Management In An Instant:60 Ways to Make the Most of Your Day. She is the co-creator of a new line of Productivity Pads from Time Tamer™ and the co-founder of Sterling Consulting Group. For questions, comments or to book Karen to speak at your next event, please e-mail [e-mail].

Comments

[LMPE]

So many rednecks - who get all their "news" from Fox Noise and Rush Limbaugh - often do these things without knowing that it harms their health.

[jmpfjoy]

Hey,

Where was your post a month ago? I just worked myself into a good bout of pneumonia.­...

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

What an important post!

Thank you giving readers an easy to assess road map to see if they are on course or on the road to physical burnout.

[tonewheel]

I resigned my job back in September to put my efforts into my volunteer work full-time. I am fortunate; my finances and a negotiated exit package allowed me to do this.

My job had become stressful to the point that my health and well being were severely compromised. Today, six months later, I am sleeping (through the night) 7 - 8 hours, I eat better, I exercise daily (giving myself weekends off), and I've dropped 40 pounds. My constant anxiety is a thing of the past, and my family has me back full time. I enjoy my work more than ever.

I got out just in time; 2 more months and my request for a negotiated exit package would have been met with laughter. My former company, like many, are struggling big time.

Granted, my situation may not be possible for you. Just sharing. But know that taking your life back should be high on everyone's list, if you can manage it. Risking your health and general well being just isn't worth it. And I'm sure many of you can relate to this.

[Orwellian]

Seven for seven. Hey, I work better under pressure. Do I win anything?
OK, not to be flip, but I'm sure that I and others manage to be good on all seven a lot of the time as well.
You do what you can when you can. Perfection is stressful all on its own.

[Alexander-Y]

What if 7 applies to you only because you cannot afford health insurance?

[Phil Butler]

Karen, if I only have 3 of these, am I safe? A great post, thanks for spotlighting me and my partner! I love Rockerbabe's "Dangling Carrot" approach to getting ahead too! LOL

Always,
Phil

[laxshmi]

Thanks for this nice piece. i gonna follow #2 and #6.

[prabhuv]

Good Points

[laxshmi]

yes . But important to follow , could you ?

[prabhuv]

yes I follow 2,3 and 5

[Blueline]

I'm 7 for 7!! Woot!

[Bitsko]

Their worst habit is wanting to over-work in the first place. Life is too short.

[notAMoron]

8. Republicanism

[d00derman]

I have problems with 7,6,2,1

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Having worked a factory job from 4 pm to 4 am, Wednesday through Friday, alternative Saturdays, was horrible on both the body and the mind. I also didn't eat very well, as every fast food restaurant created (except for White Castle) was around the place. I also drank a lot of caffeine (mainly Mountain Dew, which also has massive sugar in it) to stay awake, and rarely slept more than 6 hours a night. Then my days off were recovering from working such a long shift with hardly any sleep or proper food.

I changed to a normal, eight hour shift two years later, and it was a godsend.

When you work (and work), your fuses blow. You don't think like you normally do. It's sure as hell ain't healthy, but, in fact, dangerous.

Despite what some politicians tell you, it's OK to relax and not work all the time. It doesn't make you a Communist or a socialist.

[Eres]

I'll bet your boss still thought you were a slacker.

The same conditions are common in professional and corporate environments where employers expect resources to work night and day and sacrifice their personal lives and health for the bottom line. In my industry, it is not unusual to work 6 days per week, 12 hours per day (for 40 hours pay) and to be on call for clients and coworkers 24/7. Taking a sick days essentially means you will work from your bed, fielding emails and calls in between bouts of vomiting and fever...an­d even then you risk the perception that you are not a dedicated employee.

[Medusah]

This sage advice assumes we have a choice. My last salaried job with a large corporation in mid managementI required working fourteen hours a day starting up and directing operations in a high stress media bureau, from 5am to 7pm M-F. Weekends were spent trying to recover. I was always the messenger with unwanted news, and had no support from upper level management. This job burnt a hole in my stomach, caused symptoms very like PTSD, and made me very angry and resentful of others who had it so much easier for better pay. I quit after a year and was told that I would "never work in this market again". My successor lasted three weeks, his successor overdosed on drugs in six weeks, and then the bureau folded. Their threat has proved true (so far) as finding a salaried job with benefits hasn't happened for me in the nine years since I chose to quit rather than dying of stress.