Are You a Workaholic?

When does dedicated hard-work turn into workaholism?

With so many people feeling pressured by their organizations to get more and more work done, when does workaholism become an expectation rather than a compulsion?

Is workaholism bad for everyone, or can it be healthy for some?

I wonder about these kinds of questions as I listen to people I know talk about their (or their spouse's) work hours and work styles.

Some proudly wear the badge of "workaholic". They can get a high from all the activity, accomplishment and intensity of their jobs. Others are feeling crushed by the stress. They feel that becoming a workaholic is the only response they can make to the demands of their jobs.

CareerJournal.com offers these tips about how to know you're a workaholic:

• You are preoccupied with work in the extreme.
• You don't delegate well.
• Your family feels neglected and/or you have no life outside of work.
• You turn other parts of your life, such as hobbies, into work or a business.
• You sneak in work, not wanting to be caught.

Check out the full article for ideas on how to ward off becoming a workaholic. Because like any behavior that ends in "aholic", it's just not a healthy lifestyle.

So that's my personal bias showing. Long-term, chronic workaholism isn't good for you, the people you care about, and (gasp) just possibly, your organization. I think that sounds pretty basic, but I know many, many people who believe differently, or at least live as though they do.

Do you believe you are being forced to become a workaholic against your will? Have you figured out how to resist the pressure of becoming a workaholic? I'd love to hear more of both of these kinds of stories.

Heather Mundell
Dream Big Coaching Services
www.dreambigcoaching.com
heather@dreambigcoaching.com

Technorati Tags: workaholism careerjournal

Comments

[Chris Bailey]

Heather, I've personally experienced the more insidious type of workaholism exhibited in bullet #1. I would leave the office not too late after 5:30pm most nights and never usually take actual work home with me. However, I ended up bringing work home in my head and body. And it wouldn't be the good stuff...it would be the worries, headaches, toxic moments of the day.

But like a true -oholic, I never felt like I had a problem. I mean, I write a blog on soulful work, I know how to keep my professional side sane and purposeful. But sometimes you're blind to it all anyway. My wife had to lay it all out for me in the most brutal terms.

Now I know that I must be vigilant because workaholism can creep in through the slimmest of cracks.