7 Signs That Work Is Taking Over Your Life

7 Signs That Work Is Taking Over Your Life We all know that 9-to-5 jobs arent exactly a thing anymore (if youve managed to find one, we dont believe you. Slash were jealous). Yet while long hours are pretty much the norm these days, that doesnotmean that work should be taking over your life. If you can barely find time to get up and pee during the workday -- or if youre beginning to realize you havent seen your friends since 2016 -- youre probbbbably neglecting your personal life.Here are 5 signs that you need to start paying better attention to your work-life balance1) The first thing you do before you go to bed -- and the first thing you do when you open your eyes in the morning -- is check your work email.Were not suggesting you need to unplug completely after work hours (though if you can, by all means, go for it)...but if you dont allow yourself some time to unwind and relax, particularly before you go to sleep, youre going to drive yourself crazy.2) Youve been avoiding the doct or -- not because youre afraid of going, but because you have literally no free time.No matter whats going on at work, your health is fruchtwein important. If youre feeling good it can be hard to prioritize squeezing in a regular checkup, but if youve been meaning to get something checked out -- or even if youre just long overdue for a visit, making time for it is important. If you feel like its just impossible because of your job you need to reevaluate your workload...or at least force yourself to better prioritize your physical well-being.3) Your SO complains thatallyou talk about is work.Dont become one of those people Of course, you spend most of your waking hours at work, so its normal and constructive to debrief or vent to your loved ones. But if people start noticing that your job is all you can talk about, thats a sign that youre a little too wrapped up in whats going on at the office. It probably means that when your boyfriend tries to talk to you about something else, you find a way to bring the conversation back to your work.Whether this means you need a new job or a more manageable workload, figure it out so you dont wind up alienating the people you care about most.4) You cant remember the last time you didnt work through most of the weekend.Not OK. Weekends -- whether thats the typical Saturday/Sunday for you or two different days throughout the week -- are when youre supposed to take care of all the non-work related errands and fun activities that you cant fit in during the week.Spending a few hours catching up on emails or feinschliff a project isnt the worst thing. But if its been months since youve had a few hours to spend going to a museum or binge watching something onNetflix, thats a sign that you arent getting the free time you need and deserve.5) You consistently have to back out of plans.Weve all had to cancel dinner plans because we get stuck working late, and it sucks. But does it happen to you pretty much every time you try to make p lans with friends? Or did you miss your daughters lastthreepiano recitals? If the answer is yes, youre going to want to find a way to adjust your schedule or workload so that youre able to stick to your commitments beyond work.6) Your home is a disaster.Maybe youre messy by nature, but chances are you dont like living in a pigsty. If you cant find time to do laundry or dishes because youre working pretty much every minute that youre awake, you need a wakeup call (and you dont want that wakeup call to be some kind of bug infestation in your dirty kitchen).7) Your coworkers seem to be doing just fine -- but youre continuously drowning.Theres a saying that if you want something to get done, its better to ask a busy person to do it. Do you feel like everyone at work comes to you for everything, even though youre insanely swamped...while your coworkers are managing to catch up on TV during their lunch break? Thats because its clear that youre competent and efficient. Itdoesntmean you sho uld let your colleagues take advantage of you or that you should try to be superhuman. Speak up for yourself and make sure youre not taking on an unreasonable amount of responsibility.The trick is finding the delicate balance between working hard (or, lets say, killing it at work)...and also making time for yourself. If you suspect work is taking over your life, it probably is. Its easier said than done, but figure out how to adjust your mindset or your workload so you can continue to function both in and out of the office.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer