“Work” means everything for a lot of people these days. Their job title is what usually defines them and has also become a societal indicator of success.
If you have a successful job with a high-paying salary, you are set for life, right?
Well, first of all, work has become synonymous with life and while many may still know how to make the distinction between their jobs and their free time, it looks as though more people are getting onto the proverbial work wagon where all aspects of their life mingle into one.
What happens, then, when that lifestyle starts to spread outside of your professional bubble and starts affecting others in own your personal life? Maybe your families, your partner, or even your children?
It’s very easy to fall into the trap of “I’m doing it for them” and don’t realize how your actions are actually isolating you from them. Indeed, the fine line between “hard worker” and “workaholic” is a thin one.
Nevertheless, we will explore the five ways to recognizing when that line has been crossed.
- You Are Always First and Last
It is common for workaholics to be the very first ones present at the office, even way before official hours start, and you can catch them working well over time. For them, it doesn’t matter because their sole focus is getting the work done no matter what.
They are also restless workers. They’ll sit straight through their lunch/break hour or eat while still working…but the majority skips their meals altogether.
A proper balance between rest and work ensures that you are always in optimal condition to perform at your best, so keep that in mind.
- Your House Becomes a Satellite Office
Coming home and continuing working is not necessarily a bad thing because sometimes we do get caught in big projects with tight deadlines where compromises need to be made, but these have to be the only exceptions and not the rule.
When you are increasingly taking more and more responsibilities at home, it’s a big red flag that you are starting to prioritize work over everything else, especially when you have a family to take care of.
Quality time with those close to you is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Appreciate and enjoy them while they are still around and willing to spend time with you.
- You Don’t Know How to Say “No”
A classic sign of the workaholic is their inability to say “No.” When their boss opens their mouth, they are the first ones to listen and oblige. Work addicts tend to have a very narrow vision, thinking that doing more is better, which would make them stand out among everyone else.
In reality, they are just setting themselves up for a complete burn-out. Work addicts will often ignore any word of advice or warning given to them, just like any other type of addict; they are deep in self-denial thinking that their way is a righteous one when it is, in fact, the complete opposite.
- Til Death Do Work Apart
In similar fashion to point #3, workaholics only think about getting their job done and totally neglect their health. With this mindset, they tend to write off health conditions as nothing more than trivials that will come to pass.
The truth is, they are wrong, dead wrong in fact. Working while sick can carry several consequences non-health related. Besides the longer recovery time, they are prone to make mistakes and perform poorly due to their sickness, impressing no one in the process, even if they still wanted to show up for work.
To perform your best, it’s essential that you are in good physical and mental shape by taking care of yourself first. There’s time for everything, including rest and recovery which are some of the most important aspects to being in prime condition to give it your all!
- Treatment
Workaholism is a surprising illness many don’t see as a serious condition but rather something to be proud of. Moreover, it doesn’t help that it is not recognized as an actual disease by the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) unlike an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or gambling. Nonetheless, hope and help do exist.
In the same way that substance abuse rehabilitation programs exist, there are programs and support groups for workaholism. Group treatments and independent collectives that act as a Workaholic Anonymous have their very own centers where you can check yourself in for treatment.
Therapy for this condition involves a journey where the “work addict” learns to disconnect from work and daily duties, coming up with strategies to make their work life more efficient without interfering with their personal lives and relearning how to connect with their close circles (family, friends, and loved ones).
Self-Awareness
Ultimately, it comes down to how honest you are with yourself. If any of these points above rings a bell, then it’s up to you to act on it.
Remember, you are not alone in this. Reaching out for help can be difficult, especially when comes to problems you embarrassingly don’t want others to know about. However, it is one of the greatest signs of strength a person can display.
So try reconnecting with your own life, and practice work-disengagement as often as you can.
*****
Have you or someone close to you experienced the effects of work addiction? Let us know by sharing your experience with everyone else in the comments section below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I’m Carl Towns, a 28-year-old wanna-be writer; I am also a recovering addict in the path of self-discovery. My goal is to learn as many things as possible and to seize every single moment I live, pretty much trying to make up for all that I missed on the years I was lost on drugs and alcohol (among other things). I’m in love with tech, cars, and pretty much anything that can be found online.
If you think you’re a workaholic, you probably are haha.