Workaholism is the need to work compulsively, and is even considered a disease by some. Much like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a workaholic feels a constant desire to work, whether he or she is working for a paying job or doing something that is more of a hobby, such as blogging.
Workaholism is actually attributed to a large percentage of workers’ deaths each year, as overwork and stress lead to ailments such as heart failure, high blood pressure, and physical exhaustion. Being a workaholic has, in extreme cases, been linked to suicide, domestic violence, and even child abuse. Obviously, in these situations, it is more than a desire to work compulsively that has taken hold of the individual.
Whether or not these situations are directly related to the stress that overwork can cause, there are programs out there to help individuals overcome their desires and lessen the chance that they, or their families, become a victim of workaholism. First, such as with alcoholism, you need to know if you are a workaholic, and then accept and admit it.
Here are a few tell-tale signs found on the Workaholics Anonymous website, to help you know if you are, in fact, a workaholic.
You work constantly: This is an obvious one. If you insist on working while on vacation, at the dinner table, all day and all night, you work too much. If you work more than 40 hours a week, work on weekends and in bed, you probably work too much.
You choose work over family: If you miss your family’s special events such as ballet recitals, reunions, birthday parties, all in an effort to get more work done, your priorities are in the wrong spot. In this instance, not only you suffer, but your family pays the price as well.
You become forgetful: Do you forget important appointments that don’t relate to work, such as a dental or doctor visit? A common complaint of family members who live with a workaholic is that he or she often forgets to do simple things around the house, such as taking out the garbage. A workaholic’s mind is so consumed with work; every other chore is filtered out of his or her consciousness.
There are many more signs of workaholism, including overscheduling your day with work, getting irritated when others talk of things other than work, feeling pressure to perform at work, and being afraid of failure. All of these point to a need to be compulsive, people-please, and work constantly. Visit Workaholics Anonymous to see if you should be easing up on yourself a little, and look for my next article, which will discuss simple ways to overcome workaholism.