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For many of us, the act of burning the midnight oil is all too common. And while the reasons for consistently working late can be both valid and honorable, we can sometimes do more harm than good, to both ourselves and our organizations, when we make work our second home.

It wasn't until I woke up one morning and sprayed my hair with Lysol, thinking that it was hairspray, that I decided that I had to do a better job of keeping the kind of work schedule that actually worked for me. It's critical that we all find a "happy medium" when it comes to the amount of time that we devote to our work.

Believe it or not, a large number of individuals who start out excited and skilled in helping others often fall by the wayside early in the game simply because they get into the habit of over-working themselves and begin to suffer from burnout. Contrary to our very good intentions, extending the work day on a regular basis often leads to decreased productivity and far less job satisfaction. You can't expect to pour yourself out day after day and remain full of the same excitement, energy and fresh ideas if you don't ever pour anything back in.

It doesn't take long for most people to discover the importance of staying personally refreshed and taking the time to attend to their own needs. When you don't find ways to pull yourself away from your work, it can show in the performance of your daily tasks as well as in your attitude toward those who work with you and for you.

We live in a very hectic and fast-pace world, and it's easy to be consumed by the very work that we enjoy so much. If you are not careful, you can gain more than you bargained for when working late becomes a way of life. You can find yourself gaining: extra pounds from eating too much fast food on the run; a long list of maintenance medicines such as blood pressure pills and anti-depressants to keep you from going under; and an even longer list of people who have figured out they can go home and leave the work to you because you're willing to stay as long as it takes to get the job done.

Don't be a casualty of burn-out. People need what you bring to the professional table. It's important to let people know when you have nearly reached your limit, and be on the lookout for your colleagues who may be nearing the same fate. After all, we can't give anything to others if we don't have anything within us to give.

Learn more about this author, Tonjanita Johnson.
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