(NBC) - It's a reality for most working long hours, but now there is a reason to cut back. According to a new study putting in eleven hours or more each day at work, puts you at a much greater risk for depression.
"It interferes with the normal life people have when you work all those long hours," said Psychiatrist Gregory Young, M.D.
Researchers in Finland studied more than two-thousand white collar workers over five year period.
The results were those who put in eleven hours or more were more than twice as likely to be depressed than their co-workers, who put in eight hours or less.
"We only have a certain level of neurotransmitter in our brain, of the Wnorepinephrine, seratonin, the dopamine and if these are all used up, no matter how much we like our job, then it starts being stressful," said Young.
Long hours can translate into depression simply if you're working more, you're probably sleeping less, excercising less, and experiencing more stress.
"There has to be different outlets of enjoyment in a person's life. It can't just be one component of living," said Clinical Psychologist, Mabel Lopez PH.D.
Your schedule may also limit your time with your friends and family, worst of all, that hectic schedule could raise your risk for health issues;including heart disease.
A way to solve the problem since you can't always avoid those long hours is to try to find some way to unwind.