People used to scoff at the idea of taking “mental health days” at work, and some still do. But here’s another reason to abandon that attitude.
A new study found working too many hours a week literally changes the structure of your brain.
Researchers scanned the brains of 110 healthcare workers and split them into two categories: overworked and not overworked. They defined “overworked” as 52 hours a week or more. They found that working that much can cause “significant changes” in parts of the brain associated with executive function and emotional regulation.
It can mess with your decision-making skills, cause you to get emotional, or fly off the handle a lot, and also affect memory and attention span.
They didn’t look at the long-term effects. But they suspect that being overworked for years on end isn’t great for your mental health. (Duh.) Especially if you work through weekends and never take a vacation.
(Fox News)
