Are you a die-hard workaholic? 

If you have a job in the present challenging times, you are probably doing everything you can to hold on to it. If your employer asks you to work for long hours you would opt to do it. Ergonomics is the science of designing the workplace considering the capabilities and limitations of the worker. You might think you are getting a lot of work done by working for long hours but in fact every hour you put in over 40 hours a week is making you less productive.  Studies have found that the ‘sweet spot’ for optimum productivity is 40 hours a week.

Understanding the consequences of working for long hours, the Daily Mirror Life spoke to a few people to get their opinions on this issue.

Arshaad

“I work from 9-6 but I get a chance to take a break because I go for prayers. It is really bad to sit in one place and near the A/C for a long time. Your eyes and the entire body need a break.”

Dilhan

“It is not good at all to sit in one place and stare at the computer screen. But most of us are compelled to do so. That us how today’s jobs are designed. Technology is such that it is useful to make our workload minimized and at the same time minimizes our health condition as well.”

Sanduni

“We are in an era where we can not function without technology. So I think there will be good innovations in future which will help you to stay healthy even at your workplace.”

Randeer

“I do marketing so I am always on the move. But it is vital for anybody to take a break. I always jog for 45 minutes everyday after work and I think it keeps me healthy to an extent.”

10 reasons you shouldn’t be working for long hours 

1. Reduced productivity
2. Increased fatigue
3. Higher safety risks
4. Neglected social life
5. More stress
6. Musculoskeletal damage
7. Ergonomic hazards
8. Heart attack
9. Brain damage
10. Risk of obesity

(Source : www.lifehack.org)

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Nisal Baduge