What's the difference between hard work and workaholism?
People who work hard, because they want to or because they have to, aren't necessarily workaholics. Hard workers are dedicated to doing good work, yet can enjoy their time off.
If you're a workaholic however, you'll be able to recognize yourself in many of these statements:
- You require control and overreact when you don't have it.
- You have problems with your family because of your job.
- You spend many extra hours at work and/or take work home frequently.
- When you're at home, you spend most of your time thinking about work.
- You don't take your paid vacation days.
- You're only happy if you're working on a work project.
- You don't delegate well.
- You believe you need to work as hard as you do.
- You don't eat well, get enough rest, or get enough exercise.
Workaholism is a very effective way to stay busy and avoid intimacy. And like any behavior that ends in "aholism", workaholism isn't a healthy lifestyle.
If you're a workaholic who wants to stop working compulsively, you might benefit from the resources at Workaholics Anonymous or by working with a counselor.
Or try some of these tips, suggested by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits:
- Stop working after a certain time each night
- Schedule other things into your life (exercise, time with your son, etc.) so you can't work all the time
- Practice relaxing ten minutes at a time (read the paper, have a cup of coffee as you look out the window, whatever you can manage)
- Practice staying present as you practice relaxing
- Exercise every day, even for just ten minutes
- Schedule solitude ten minutes per day to start
photo by geopollock
