The "infinite workday" — where employees are constantly blitzed with emails and notifications at all hours — is only getting worse. In some cases, the rise of artificial intelligence has exacerbated the time professionals spend working outside of their 9-to-5.Seventy-six percent of full-time workers consider themselves at least somewhat of a workaholic, according to an October 2025 survey of 807 employees by Monster. If you're working nights and weekends for career security, workplace experts say those extra hours may not be worth the effort. In the age of AI, an incessant dedication to work is not the answer because "job security is no longer a guaranteed thing," says author and employee experience strategist Kalifa Oliver. Meta laid off about 8,000 employees on May 20. In an internal memo about the job cuts, billionaire founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote that "success isn't a given" in the artificial intelligence space. Some organizations directly cite AI technology as a driver for their restructurings, which aren't expected to cease any time soon. Ninety-nine percent of C-suite executives expect to reduce headcounts by up to 20% in the next two years as artificial intelligence affects their workflows, according to consulting firm Mercer's 2026 Global Talent Trends report, which surveyed 825 C-suite leaders and 1,650 HR leaders.If you're working extra hours because you want some additional pay or your manager tells you to, that's one thing. But if you are obsessing over work due to layoff fears or even just a love of your job, that can still be harmful in the long run, says Chelsea Jay, a Guadalajara, Mexico-based leadership and development consultant. This obsession, Jay notes, starts a cycle of "overthinking, overanalyzing and overworking, which leads to limited creative function, sleep deprivation, burnout, and resentment."Forty-six percent of burned-out employees say it is more difficult for them to stay focused and productive at work, according to an April 2026 report from mental health company Spring Health."Work is a transaction, no matter how much you think you love your job," adds Oliver. Overworked employees may be 'too exhausted to spot mistakes, be innovative, or contribute most effectively. And for the business, this person is not able to hold their end of the bargain to contribute to the bottom line."If you struggle with overworking, Jay recommends asking yourself these five questions: Is my workload reasonable?Is there a skill gap that's causing me to need extra time to complete my work?Do I have enough support in my department?Can I delegate?Where is most of my time going while at work? (i.e. meetings, socializing, helping others with their work?)"From there, I recommend spending a week and keeping a time log to track activity and identifying areas where time can be saved," Jay says. "If there truly is not enough time, a conversation may need to take place to discuss the realities of your role." When working outside of your 9-to-5, give yourself a realistic time limit to finish your tasks, Jay recommends. That way, you can still prioritize your personal health and well-being. Overworking and obsession, she adds, should not be requirements to succeed in your career."At the end of the day," says Oliver, "burned out employees are not good to themselves or the business."Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC's new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors share practical strategies to help you use everyday conversations to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and accelerate your career growth. Sign up today!