Anyone who’s ever worked more than 50 hours a week knows what burnout feels like. To add insult to injury, you’re probably not even getting any more work done by staying late.
Photo by Robert Couse-Baker.
As business site Entrepreneur points out, working more hours rarely makes you more productive, past a certain point. While staying late occasionally can help you get a few more things done, working more hours is like the turbo button on a starship: It’s only for quick boosts. If you’re regularly working past 50 hours a week, your productivity is likely going to drop:
[A study from Stanford] found that productivity per hour declines sharply when the workweek exceeds 50 hours, and productivity drops off so much after 55 hours that there’s no point in working any more. That’s right, people who work as much as 70 hours (or more) per week actually get the same amount done as people who work 55 hours.
While productivity declines after 50 hours a week, it almost stops entirely after 55. Eventually, your brain and body simply can’t handle the load. You need rest to be able to come back and get more done. If you don’t get it, your brain will try to find ways to rest while you’re working.
That leads to a drop in productivity and a worse situation for everyone. Instead, do yourself a favour and go home.
How Successful People Work Less and Get More Done [Entrepreneur]
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