There are people who have a constant desire to accomplish all the tasks assigned to them and not stop working no matter how long it takes, at the expense of their health or their family and social relationships. This condition known as “bubble factor syndrome” creates conditions that increase stress, anxiety and depression.

According to the French website "Améliore ta Santé", a person who suffers from "bubble factor syndrome" cannot separate his personal and professional life, and this has undeniable health consequences.

This syndrome reflects the difficulties that employees face when trying to separate from their professional duties, and although this phenomenon is not new, it has become widespread since the Corona pandemic, with the adoption of a remote work approach where the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds are absent.

Symptoms of bubble factor syndrome

  • Only care about work related matters.

  • Always check your phone, emails and notifications.

  • Excessive use of technology and the Internet and complaining when apps crash or slow Wi-Fi.

  • Suffering from sleep disorders and loss of appetite.

  • Only touching on issues related to work, and sudden mood swings such as tension, anxiety and nervousness.

A person who suffers from "bubble factor syndrome" cannot separate his personal and professional life (Getty Images)

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American psychologist Dr. Janet Kennedy says, "There is a specific point at which poor concentration begins, difficulty finding words, sleep unintentionally, and productivity returns diminishing, all of which are signs of severe exhaustion and approaching the breaking point."

5 Harmful effects of long working hours

The researchers also revealed 5 long-term damages that may be caused to the body and mind due to working more than 40 hours per week, which are:

  • Increased risk of death

    , working for a long time can be fatal, according to a global study that showed that “working more than 55 hours per week caused 745,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease in 2016, and was associated with a 35% increased risk of stroke compared to working from 35 to 40 hours a week.

  • Sleep deprivation,

    and thus not getting enough rest, impairs the ability to focus and think creatively, as "sleep deprivation causes cognitive impairment that makes us more susceptible to disease, depression and anxiety, and can harm productivity, and lead to serious and costly mistakes and accidents," she says. Janet Kennedy.

  • Increased risk of injury at work.

    Working long hours raises the risk of physical harm. According to one study that looked at more than 110,000 job records from 1987 to 2000, it was found that working at least 12 hours a day was associated with an increased risk of injury by 37%. Working at least 60 hours a week was associated with a 23% increase in risk.

  • Deterioration of mental health.

    A study published in 2020 indicated that levels of stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among Korean workers in their twenties and thirties - who worked from 31 to more than 60 hours per week - increased with the increase in the duration of their work.

  • Negatively affecting productivity and efficiency,

    as working longer hours does not lead to better work, according to a survey conducted by Morten Hansen, a professor of management at the University of California, over a period of 5 years, and included 5 thousand employees and managers in several industries, and showed that working between 30 and 50 hours is possible, but the employee’s claim Working for a longer period does not necessarily lead to better results insofar as it poses a threat to his health. Additional working hours will not make a difference as long as they cause long-term damage to the body.

Sleep deprivation causes cognitive impairment that makes us more susceptible to disease, depression and anxiety and can harm productivity (Shutterstock)

How do you deal with bubble factor syndrome?

According to the symptoms mentioned above, the negative effects of "bubble factor syndrome" include all areas of life, and it is not limited to the decline in performance and creativity due to not taking a break, but also affects health status and social relationships.

Stress can expose a person to serious problems, such as depression and anxiety disorders, so it is advised to follow the following recommendations when suffering from this syndrome:

Develop a list of specific tasks:

By creating a list of daily tasks, you will be able to identify urgent tasks and avoid wasting your effort and draining your energy at work.

Allocate time for physical activity:

If you encounter difficulty in committing to physical activity or tend to abandon it, this activity can be done with another person, and in this way it will be difficult to cancel the activity or make excuses.

Getting out of the house:

Getting out of the house and taking a walk without a smartphone helps avoid spending a lot of time in front of electronic devices.

Choose breaks during the working day:

Daily breaks during work can be used to stretch the body or listen to favorite music and breathe deeply.

Practice

No. Even if you are passionate about work, you must set boundaries for yourself and others. There is nothing wrong with leaving an email unanswered until the next day.

Pay attention to the work environment:

Employers are advised to provide a positive atmosphere within the organization, given that caring for others and colleagues is in itself self-interest, so employees follow a fast paced work without taking breaks that increases tension within the group, and for this reason, even in light of remote work, some Time to chat and get rid of work pressure.