According to Science You Should Only Work This Many Hours a Week

Maybe you can use this info next time you're discussing your hours at work with your boss.

I will never forget the day I first met Steve Shannon. It was a sweaty July day almost three years ago, and he told me that every day needs to be a balance. That we have 24 hours, 8 should be for work, 8 should be for sleeping and 8 should be for the rest of your life.

I'm still working on that balance, but he was definitely onto something.

According to INC., working more than 40 hours a week can be more detrimental than helpful to your career and your life outside of work.

After taking in research from multiple sources, INC reports the following reasons why you should step away from work after the "workday" is over, including the following:

• Working more than 10 hours a day is associated with a 60 percent jump in risk of cardiovascular issues.
• Working more than 40 hours a week is associated with increased alcohol and tobacco consumption, as well as unhealthy weight gain in men and depression in women.
• Injury rates increase as work hours increase. Those who work 60 hours per week have a 23 percent higher injury hazard rate.
• In white collar jobs, productivity declines by as much as 25 percent when workers put in 60 hours or more.

The study shows that 50 hours is when you should be sure to call it quits each week to save your health and sanity.