Five signs you take work too personally and should do something about it.

Work plays a crucial role in our lives. In many cases we spend more than a third of each day at it. We often see colleagues more frequently than some members of our own family, and sometimes it is hard to separate work from personal life. But if you take your work too personally and even take it home with you (both literally and figuratively), this is a problem that, sooner or later, could lead to frustration, burnout or lower quality of life outside work. Here are five signs that show you take your job too personally and seriously, and need to set stricter boundaries between work and personal life.

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These tips were published by the Harvard Business Review.

Taking criticism at work too personally

Work and work-related matters should never be taken too personally. If someone is criticising you at work or making demands of you, always stay calm. Treat it like a business transaction, nothing personal.

Neglecting family duties because of work

A typical sign of taking work too seriously is long-term neglect of your hobbies, family duties and your personal life in general due to work tasks, which may often even go beyond the scope of your official duties.

Working too often in the evening

It can sometimes happen that you need to work overtime: for instance, if an important deadline is approaching or a problem occurs. But if you sit at your desk regularly even when you have time off, it shows your relationship towards your work is unhealthy.

Work-related problems impacting your mental state even outside work

Do you think about problems you have in your office even during your personal time? Are you unable to concentrate or do you feel irritated during your off-work time because of work-related issues? Then something is wrong and you should set up stricter boundaries between your personal life and your job.

Identifying yourself through your job

Although work is important in our lives, it should not be the only thing that defines you. If you see your work as the most important thing in your life and identify yourself solely through your job, then this might become a problem for you in the future.



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Article source Harvard Business Review - flagship magazine of Harvard Business School
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