Workaholic New Yorkers beware—long hours can literally make you crazy, a new study claims.
Working more than 39 hours a week can wreak havoc on your mental health and cause other serious sicknesses, according to research published in the journal Social Science & Medicine.
People who average 40 or more hours of work a week—combined with other commitments such as caring for kids—are more prone to suffer meltdowns, researchers said.
To stay healthy and productive, women should work no more than 34 hours per week, according to the researchers.
The limit was higher for men, who researchers capped at 47 hours a week.
Women—who are often slammed with tasks both at home and the workplace—are more prone to stress, researchers said.
“Given the extra demands placed on women, it’s impossible for women to work long hours often expected by employers unless they compromise their health,” lead researcher Huong Dinh told PS News.
For the study, the Australian National University researchers compiled data from 8,000 employed Australian men and women aged 24 to 64.
The average American works 34.4 hours a week, according to a 2015 report by CNN Money.