Finding the ideal balance between feeling productive and overworking oneself may be incredibly challenging. We all reach our breaking points, even if you’re prone to working long, challenging hours.

When does working too hard begin to hurt you? And how?

With the possible exception of Japan, which has a term for dying at one’s desk called “karoshi,” the United States is among the countries that labour the hardest. And the scourge of workaholism is just growing worse. According to data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the average American currently works one whole month more annually than they did in 1976.

Read on to discover 5 ways working too hard might be hurting you. Then take a big step back from your workaholic ways and find some respite.

1. You’ll get sick

For some people, this could mean a persistent cough or cold that simply won’t go away. For others, it could be a lot worse–maybe long-term conditions like hypertension or heart disease. Leaving out time to exercise or take care of yourself ultimately results in your taking even more days off work–something that could only hurt you.

2. You’ll become less creative

Experiencing burnout naturally results in a diminished ability to generate new ideas. In the end, a lack of imagination can lead to less innovation and may even impair your ability to solve problems at work.

3. You might get less smart

Overworking typically indicates that you’re not working as efficiently as you could be. Through the use of brain MRIs, the Yale Stress Centre at Yale University discovered that participants who had experienced very stressful experiences had smaller brain volumes than those who had not.

4. You’ll have no balance

We lose the potential to incorporate other aspects of our lives that bring us happiness into our daily lives when we always prioritise work. Less work will undoubtedly improve the other aspects of your life, even without giving the impression that you’re trying.

5. You’ll be overwhelmed

Overworked individuals are far more likely to experience utter overload from seemingly insignificant chores, to the point where they become incapable of performing everyday duties that everyone else seems to be able to perform.