As submitted to http://acanac.org/blogs/geek/

Being the "Standard Nerd" that I am, I can easily find myself addicted to and obsessing over work. Whenever we get into the really cool stuff, or when the pressure is really on, I find that I can't get enough time at the office. I'm not alone. Many of you reading this might be in the same boat, many of you most certainly won't. If you're single, then this generally only affects your individual social life. You might not get out as much or your friends might feel a little neglected. If you have a family, well then that is another story...

What most people fail to recognize is that the compulsion to over-work is very damaging to the family life.  Those that are close to you, such as your spouse and children, will feel the impact of your obsession long before you ever realize it's happening.  Sometimes it's a little more obvious.  For example, you might miss some of your child's sporting events or your spouse might spend some lonely dinners with only the family pet for company.  Communication is everything in a functional relationship, and these are the kinds of things that are easy subjects to bring up.  They are also easy subjects to fight about.  Don't do it.  With the stress levels that the working environments of today drive us to, we don't need to add more by fighting about it.

The more subtle impacts that aren't as easy to point out are feelings that your family may experience.  Maybe one day your child wants you to go for a bike ride with them, but you tell them that it will have to wait till later because you have to get that email sent out for work.  Later never comes though.  Children can be easily disappointed and it seems like those little disappointments compound and grow into bigger, more unhealthy feelings.  Another example could be that you come home frustrated from your day at the office and maybe you end up in a fight with your spouse over something very minor.  It's easy to bring your stress home with you.  Don't do it.  Try to assess yourself on a regular basis to ensure that you are harmonizing your work life and your home life.  Balance is the key.

Take the time to stop and smell the roses.  Seriously.  Force yourself to stop and enjoy your life.  Don't take the little things for granted.  Every moment that passes us by is gone, we can never get it back.  So this morning when your child wanted to give you an extra hug, or this evening when your spouse wanted to just sit with you for a moment and you were too busy - well that moment is gone.  You can never go back to it.  Try to keep that in mind.  Life is way too short.