Avoiding Overtime Obsession

Working overtime can earn you extra money for college tuition, vacations, repaying debt and emergencies or to save for retirement. Extra hours can also lead to a promotion or bonus. But it can also come with a cost to your work-life balance. Before you sign up for overtime, consider the pros and cons:

• Fatigue – Clear thinking and eye-hand coordination decrease when you’re tired, making you less productive and increasing the likelihood of mistakes that could lead to injury, rework or damage to your professional reputation.
• Family – You may miss a child’s first bike ride, school assemblies and other important events.
• Friends – Trusted friendships key for personal support become more difficult to nurture and maintain when you’re always at the office.
• Expectations – More responsibility may come with extra hours, creating a never-ending and increasing cycle of challenges and concerns.

Sometimes working overtime is important, whether it’s adjusting to a new job, new boss or to pay off bills. But do it in moderation.