You're always exhausted, but you can't sleep. Columns appearing on the service and this webpage represent the views of the authors, not of The University of Texas at Austin. Sure, it’s important, but it’s still work. University Communications And some of us let them impose their version of fun on us. Maybe even 14. However, time outside of the office is also important, because you’re going to want to update your resume and reach out to your network in case your job isn’t as secure as you’d hope. We should applaud them: The purpose of life is not to make money, but to enjoy the time spending it. Bills. You may feel like you’re just “trying to keep your head above water” and believe that the extra hours are the best way to make sure your company never lets you go. Not only that, but spend that hour exercising, calling a friend, or doing something just for you. If you can’t remember the last time you met up with family or friends, watched an interesting movie, went shopping or did anything that was not work related, this is a key indicator that your job is taking over and it’s time to get a life. Can you consolidate all your “busy work” (such as responding to emails) into one block of time instead of allowing it to cause constant interruptions in your day. Congratulations, you win! If this is your core motivation, you’re one of the lucky ones. If you’re not able to deliver what your client expects, you’re probably taking on too much. Entrepreneur Store scours the web for the newest software, gadgets & web services. But, somehow, I always gave in. Indeed, it’s the curse of being good at your job that you’re getting more work thrown at you that you can handle. The average U.S. workweek is 41 hours, compared with Britain’s 38 hours, Germany’s 37 hours and France’s 36 hours. So has reading memoirs and binging on blog posts. Travel abroad. Hot tubs. On the other hand, tidy little advice columns and commercials tell us to take time off. This not only gives you something to look forward to, but it also forces you to stay productive instead of just busy. Can we go now? for each one. “See, you work too hard,” my ex said. Work defines us as people, i.e., when we aren't happy at work, other areas of our life suffer. Just live with it. It is quite acceptable for you to talk about your job from time to time; however, it becomes a problem when work is the only thing you talk about. Not just needed. Trips to see the parents. Your problem has been a century old problem for most entrepreneurs and growth minded people out there. In some ways, everything we do is a kind of work. They don’t understand that we’ve turned our fun into work, and we accommodate them by trying to do things their way. Or maybe you're sleeping more than … Nearly nine million Americans who might have been expected to be at work or looking are not. Other than playing a game, maybe turning off your brain means going for a walk. Spreadsheets don’t stress me out; family reunions do. And by win, I mean you officially work too much. To increase your salary without increasing your workload, there are two things you can do. You don’t have time to eat out, shop, or make it to the gym; but hey, you can afford all of the above. Of course there are instances where taking extra work home may be necessary, but it isn’t good to constantly obsess about reports to get done, presentations to prepare, or plans you need to make for an upcoming project. Netflix and chill. Twenty-seven percent of U.S. employees perform some work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., many more than in other rich countries; 30 percent work on weekends, again a lot more than elsewhere. That rise gave high-income earners an incentive to work more. But I didn’t. That’s what freelancers are for and why you put other people on the payroll. Spend weekends with family. Suntan lotion. Get heaping discounts to books you love delivered straight to your inbox. Trips to see the parents. But who needs sleep anyhow? What matters isn’t how much time you spend relaxing. In fact, the increase in very long hours has been disproportionate among very high earners. I almost killed him, and everyone else in that little shack we were stuck in with no bathroom. And he was right, except he meant my project. By: There’s nothing worse than lying to yourself about how you feel, just because you recently did something that mainstream culture has classified as “relaxing.” That can cause even more damage than “working too hard.”. So, what if it comes at the expense of your relationships and sanity—at least you’ll have your job, right? You might get shut down, but if you don’t, then you will have increased your personal gain without adding more hours to your workday! Once, I spent four hours watching birds because my spouse wanted to. That strikes some people as dangerous, but to me it just sounds fun. Not only do we work more, we do much more work at undesirable times. Work much lately? Working less does not mean economic failure—the opposite may be the case. Perhaps they’ve decided to relax a bit. It was work. The hardest kind. However, this tendency should not be so pronounced that the entire burden is left on you. Hey, you may even find a passion for rest and renewal by reading and sleeping more! For just $5 per month, get access to premium content, webinars, an ad-free experience, and more! Try to create a balance including family, interests and altruism; the future should reflect more than just reaching the pinnacle of your career. Not only do we work more, we do much more work at undesirable times. Related: An Entrepreneur Reflects on Free Time Now That His Kids, and Business, Are Grown Up. I know that makes me sound like a terrible person, but it’s not like I tell them that. There was a piñata in there somewhere. To some people, that’s mowing the lawn. Related: 5 Things Warren Buffett Does After Work. But don’t lie to yourself about how much you enjoy vacations, especially if all you want to do is sneak away from the beach and find reliable WiFi to answer emails. Take a break with the collection of wise and insightful enjoying life quotes below. And by win, I mean you officially work too much. There’s no such thing as a totally relaxing experience, devoid of any labor. It doesn’t mean you’re a workaholic. I’ll bet you do—and that you were a lot more pleasant to work with to boot. In some ways, everything we do is a kind of work. If it’s the former, you’re right to step your game up at work. However, it is important that you know where to draw the line, bearing in mind that your work can easily consume you. There is some hope. There sure are a lot of them. First, accept that some level of preparing for anything to happen is a good thing, because it motivates you to keep your eyes open and your skills fresh. Record numbers of burned-out NHS staff are quitting because they are fed up with spending too much time at work and not enough with their ... 270 medics quit over work-life …