this time ~ this space

Workaholism is an excessive, compulsive need to work— with resulting damaged interpersonal relationships, health problems, diminished life satisfaction, distorted thinking, and impoverished social relationships.

Workaholism, like any addition, is a need that cannot be met. It’s typical for a workaholic to see her as not functioning as well as other people, and to rationalize the excessive need to work. Others typically see the problem and its consequences, even when the workaholic cannot.

Reportedly, 50% to 80% of all diseases have their origins in stress, and eight of the top 10 causes of death are stress-related. Medical and psychological problems attributable to workaholism have emerged as major health hazards.

More and more people are becoming workaholics and here are some contributing factors:

• The average workweek is now up to 47 hours, 4 more than just 20 years ago.
• Gallup polls show that 44% of Americans call themselves “workaholics”.
• Organizational change (downsizing, mergers, re-engineering) have led to increased worker anxiety about job security, leading many to over-commit in order to demonstrate their value to their organizations.
• Organizations are expecting more from every worker in a downsized, cost cutting environment.
• Technology has increased the speed of just about everything, and instead of creating more free time, has increased the demands on people.
• More people than ever before are working in their own businesses—where there are no boundaries on their time, and no end to things to do.

Defining oneself as a workaholic can be difficult, since the condition itself is not always well-defined. A physician working 70 hours a week may be less of a workaholic than a factory worker working 40 hours a week. The physician may have an active social life outside of work, while the workaholic factory worker may dread the idea of going home after a shift.

For a true workaholic, work becomes a compulsion and possibly even an obsession. Workaholism cannot be measured in raw hours or job satisfaction. A workaholic may or may not find fulfillment through work, but feels compelled to perform nonetheless.

One of the main differences between a motivated worker and a workaholic is perspective. A well-adjusted worker realizes that his job is only one element of his identity. Once the work is done, the workplace is replaced with a fulfilling home life.

For a workaholic, on the other hand, her job title becomes a much larger percentage of her identification. There is no such thing as ‘leaving the workplace’ - there is work and there is a very long break. A true workaholic usually has difficulty dividing work life from home life. Source

• Do you work as many or more than 40 hours weekly?
• Do you sacrifice your personal life and weekends with family and friends to meet job commitments?
• Are you connected with the office when you’re not physically there, checking your BlackBerry or tapping out e-mails on your laptop?

Clearly, the possible risk of work obsession is high if you answered “yes” to these questions. There is a line to be drawn, however, between healthy, ambitious work habits and workaholism. To help pin down your statusCheck the Workaholics Anonymous website for a list of 20 questions.

If pursuing a short term financial goal is more important that assuring a long-term relationship with your partner, children and friends then you need to rethink your priorities. Sure, you might tell yourself that you are working is a necessary part of life. But be honest, is there a balance in the time you spend on both your work life and your personal life? Balance is truly the key.

Here are a few steps to achieve a healthy balance:

1. Slow down - Pace yourself at work and gradually cut down the number of hours you work each day or week.

2. Set boundaries - Avoid radical changes, but take measurable steps, like making it a rule not to work on weekends. (If that means you have to cut your workload proportionally by skipping unimportant tasks or delegating some work, so be it.) Pledge not to take or make work-related calls on weekends or after 9 p.m. and don’t bring work with you where you go.

3. Avoid talking shop over lunch. Go on a picnic or meet an old friend and talk about something unrelated to work.

4. Be sensitive to the needs of your family and friends - Schedule time for your personal relationships and honor those commitments.

5 . Make a fitness plan and stick to it - Get some physical exercise every day. Take a walk, do some stretching, or participate in some other non-stressful, noncompetitive activity.

6. Choose a hobby that contrasts with the kind of work you do. If you work on highly technical mental problems all day, take up a handicraft hobby like woodworking or needlework. If you stay indoors all day, take up an outdoor activity like gardening or bicycling.

7. Refuse to feel guilty when you’re not working. This is the most important step of all and if you can’t master it then get professional help. Workaholism is a symptom that sometimes stems from depression, stress and anxiety, compulsive personality, perfectionism, self-esteem and insecurity issues, marital problems and other things that throw you out of whack. If that’s the case, a therapist can help you develop strategies for managing your problem.

8. Consider a new line of work.

References:
Are You a Workaholic?
Am I Really A Workaholic?
Seven Ways to Cure Workaholism
Worhaholism and the Cult of Productivity

Links to related self help blog posts.

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