Are you working too hard? The six signs

It's good to work hard. Accomplishing more on the job is satisfying and psychologically rewarding, besides the concrete benefits for the business and its customers. But everything has its limits. Many people fall into the habit of working too hard. Pressure from bosses, the culture of a company or industry, and ambition can all contribute to someone working too hard. You don't want to be one of those people. Here are six signs you are working excessively hard.

Doing More Than Coworkers

There's a fine line between simply being the person in the office striving hard to advance their career and being someone who pushes too hard. But your coworkers can often serve as a useful barometer. If you are working more than your colleagues -- and it's not simply a matter of you being more efficient -- that can be a strong indicator of trouble.

Consistently Working Long Hours

It can make sense to work a long day sometimes. If there's a time crunch as the deadline for completing a big project approaches, putting in long hours can be sensible. The problem shows up if you are regularly working long hours for an extended period. Working more than a week straight of extended hours is probably too much. At that point, the long hours are becoming a regular habit, not an exception.

Constantly Thinking About Work

Work is an important thing, but it is only one part of life. If, mentally, you constantly feel "on" -- as if there is no off switch for your focus on your job -- then you are probably working too hard. Obsessively focusing on something, even if it's something important like work, is not healthy or good. It's also a simple sign that that thing, whatever it is, is taking up too much of your time, attention, and mental energy.

Other Priorities Go by the Wayside

Do you never have time to exercise? Are your personal relationships suffering from neglect? Do you feel like you never have time to see friends, travel, or simply relax and do nothing for a few hours? If other things you genuinely value and care about are constantly being shunted aside in favor of work, you are probably working too hard.

Anger, Irritation, Resentment, and Other Negative Emotions

Of course, there are many possible causes for a short temper or feeling irritated by life's small tribulations. However, combined with other signs, consistent negative emotions -- especially if they are a major change from your usual moods -- are a sign you are working too hard. Pressing too hard on the job is stressful, inevitably degrading your emotional equilibrium. Unpleasant, negative emotions are going to appear.

People Tell You You're Working Too Hard

It's possible to learn a lot from the perspective of others. You might be too close to the issue to judge yourself properly, which means what others have to say is valuable. Just remember to take into account whom you are getting the message from. Words from a wise person, or someone who has known you a long time and who cares about you, are certainly more valuable. But still, the more people saying you are working too hard, the more likely it's true.

It's important to remember that working too hard is ultimately damaging, even in terms of productivity. Anxiety, stress, and dissatisfaction with life will grow the longer you push yourself too hard. These effects will be more and more of a drag on focus and motivation over time. In the end, you won't even benefit from high productivity from working too hard -- which is another reason to pay heed to the six main signs you are working too hard.