A study looking at 13 years' worth of data showed that workers who do overtime frequently were 61 percent more likely to become hurt or ill. Working more than 12 hours a day raised this risk by more than a third.

The risk is not necessarily directly related to the hazards of the job.More likely, long hours induce fatigue or stress in affected workers.

Researchers looked at over 5,000 work-related injuries and illnesses. They found that more than half of them occurred in jobs with extended working hours. After studying the data, they concluded that there was a greater risk of injury as the work hours increased.

BBC News August 17, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

This is a great studythat helps emphasize the importance of a prinicple I frequently have to violate.It is not healthy to sleep less than six hours a night, and there are many nights that I go below that, but this is a great reminder that I need to be more vigilant in this area.

One of the keys that I do abide, though, is getting to bed well before midnight. It is rare where I am still awake at after 10 p.m. This is a major area that many people fail to appreciate the importance of. They fail to understand that regularlygoing to sleep after midnight is a sure-fire prescription for devastating your adrenals.

Studies like this one are great examples why the work-life balance movement is growing steadily in this country. If all of your time is spent working, moving and getting things done, you won't have any time left to actually enjoy life, or care for your body. It's wise to seek a balance.

• Get the right amount of sleep. Many people consider sleep to be time wasted. In fact, it is vital for your health. You won't get any work done while you're sick, either, so get the rest you need.
• Put aside enough time to incorporate a routine exercise program into your life. Exercising should come naturally in your daily life. You'll feel better for it, and the extra energy you get from it will let you work better when you are working.
• Instead of a rushed meal of fast food, take the time to prepare and eat healthy, natural choices. Form good eating habits by finding your personal metabolic type.
• Give yourself time to care for your overall emotional health. I recommend taking some time out of your day to use the energy psychology tool Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). It is a psychological acupressure technique that can help you to channel your stress-related thoughts and leave you feeling calmer and more able to face your challenges.

If you spend all your time working, you'll wreck your health. Take the time to care for yourself, and your life will be better for it.

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