WORK THAT KILLS: How to achieve career growth without overtime

Photo by Shawn Day on Unsplash

Do you routinely work overtime for better results? This can change your brain — possibly for the better, but every change comes with a cost.

THE BRAIN SUFFERS FROM OVERTIME

There are structures in your brain that regulate emotions and executive functions. They are also responsible for problem-solving and working memory. According to the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, these are the very structures that suffer the most from your overtime work. If we take the socially accepted standard of a five-day work week, that means 40 hours of labor. But what happens if a person spends 52 hours a week or more at work? Researchers performed MRI scans on the brains of 110 such workaholics, most of whom were their colleagues — healthcare professionals.

DEATH IN THE WORKPLACE

It turned out that the changes in their brains caused by extended working hours can have a significant impact on mental health, leading to cognitive impairments and emotional burnout. But this is not the only threat. Excessively long working days bring exhaustion that can end in death. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has estimated that every year, more than 800,000 people die from overwork in the workplace. And how could it be otherwise, when a workaholic dramatically increases their risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and mental health problems?

WORKAHOLISM — THE LOT OF THE YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED?

Youth and professionalism don’t really provide much protection. Quite the opposite. Research has shown that most people inclined to work excessively long hours share three common traits. First, on average, they were younger. Second, they had less work experience. Third, they possessed higher qualifications compared to those who preferred a regular work schedule. Perhaps all these factors combined lead them to somewhat overestimate the resources of their bodies, which, unfortunately, are not limitless. Still, there is a possibility that the brains of workaholics can adapt to the strain of overtime.

WHEN OVERWORKED, DOES OUR BRAIN GROW?

To cope with overload, the hardworking brain increases in volume. Compared to the brain of an average person working a standard schedule, the middle frontal gyrus in such individuals expands by about 19%. And this very region is largely responsible for cognitive functions such as working memory, attention, and language processing. The middle frontal gyrus is not the only part of the brain where scientists have observed changes.

They also affect areas responsible for attention and planning, decision-making, and emotional processing. It is possible that all of the above represent neuroadaptive responses of the brain to overwork. At first glance, this sounds great. But only if one clearly understands that such «upgrading» does not come at the cost of one’s health.

TRY WORKING WITHOUT WORKING

In any case, researchers plan to continue studying the bodies of workaholics to definitively confirm the causal link between changes in the brain and excessive effort. Other predisposing factors, completely unrelated to overwork, may also be discovered. Here, everything can be highly individual. For some, a clear separation between work and personal life may itself cause fatigue. Others, on the contrary, are able to use their free time outside of work for professional development.

The key is to find a balance between career and personal life — developing your brain, your skills, and your job satisfaction without harming your physical and mental health. Studies show that people who incorporate elements of professional growth into their free time are more confident, motivated, and productive at work. In other words, to succeed and train your brain, you don’t literally need to live in the workplace.

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