I've been going through my mailbox and found this email from Marie. Just wanted to share with everyone as I know a lot of you guys are neck-deep at work. It's an old message, actually. I just thought some of you would appreciate the reminder, and I'm sure some would kill me for rubbing it on their faces.

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Our society teaches us that hard work pays off. But does it really? Does being ambitious have its price? Perhaps it is wiser to work smarter than harder.


Five signs that you're working too hard:

1. You only think about work. You eat, breathe and sleep work. Whether you run your own business or you're trying to move up within an organization, you sacrifice time spent with family and friends to stay focused on your goals.

2. You don't know how to relax. Some people are so driven that they literally forget how to relax and unwind. Their only activities are working, eating and sleeping. Have you lost enjoyment for the simple things, such as going for a walk?

3. You're in denial. Despite what your friends, family, co-workers or associates say about you working too hard, you claim that they are all wrong and that they're the ones with the problem, not you. You completely deny that they are probably right.

4. You've become self-absorbed. When others offer ideas or suggestions that contradict your own, you become defensive. You're so focused on getting things done that you can't see straight.

5. You feel exchausted. Your body feels tired and you're drinking way too many coffees to get through your "important" projects. You ignore what your body is saying and keep going anyway.

Be careful. It's one thing to have goals; it's another to kills yourself to get there. If you work too hard, think about where you might end up if you continue on that same path. The hospital maybe? Stress kills.