You probably didn’t know this, but there’s a national day known as the “Leave Work Early Day.” It’s not a national holiday. So, don’t expect your employer to allow you to leave work early on that day. Nevertheless, it’s something that would get you thinking about the time we leave work and how the late hours affect our lives.
One survey by Gallup, for instance, shows that the average American works 47 hours a week. That’s seven hours more than the standard 40-hour week. Worse still, 4-in-10 people work over 50 hours a week.
Working that long may be beneficial for the employer, but it comes with damaging consequences for the workers. Among others, Psychology Today says that working too long can lead to chronic fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, pessimism, depression, and even apathy. All these factors can negatively impact your health and are a reason you should consider reducing your working hours.
In one study which has since been published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), it was found that people who work more than 50 hours a week have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases associated with the brain, myocardial infarction, and coronary heart disease. Meanwhile, those who work more than 61 hours are at an increased risk of systolic blood pressure. Depression and anxiety risk also increase as soon as your working hours go past 34 hours a week.
Another health issue associated with long working hours is occupational injury. When people spend too much time at work, the risk of workplace injuries significantly increases. Leaving work early doesn’t necessarily make impossible to get hurt your chances are reduced.
More Reason You Shouldn’t Stay Longer in the office if you can Leave Work Early
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You need to take care of your family
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You need to take care of your home
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You have a duty to protect your health
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You have other things on your mind
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You rarely take your vacation time