Overtaxed: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word 'overtaxed' comes from 'over', meaning too much, and 'tax', which in this context means to put a burden on someone or something.
• The use of 'tax' originates from Latin 'taxare', meaning to estimate or rate; over time, it evolved to imply a burden or stress on resources.

Psychology

• Studies show that being overtaxed can lead to burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.
• Feeling overtaxed can impact decision-making, making it harder to focus and causing mistakes.
• Individuals who experience high stress from being overtaxed often report anxiety and lower levels of satisfaction with life.

Workplace Culture

• Many companies recognize overtaxation as a major issue, urging employees to balance workloads to prevent decreased productivity.
• The rise of remote work has blurred lines between work and home, resulting in many feeling overtaxed as expectations increase.
• Promoting mental health days is one approach organizations use to help employees recover from feelings of being overtaxed.

Education

• Students who are overtaxed may struggle more with retention of information due to cognitive overload.
• Educational institutions are adopting mindfulness practices to help students manage stress and avoid feeling overtaxed.
• The phenomenon of overtaxing is increasingly addressed in discussions about homework and academic pressure on students.

Economics

• In economic terms, overtaxing can refer to taxing individuals or resources to the point that it stifles growth and productivity.
• Excessive taxation can lead to a phenomenon known as 'tax fatigue', where people become disengaged from contributing due to feelings of being overburdened.