Are you someone who cannot get work out of your mind 24/7? Do you end up staying in office and working late almost every other day? Do you end up skipping important family events or take time for yourself due to your work commitments? Then there are high chances that you may be among the workaholics.
A workaholic is someone who tends to works all the time and finds it extremely hard not to work. He or she is basically obsessed with work, mostly to an unhealthy extent. A workaholic person experiences an inability to limit the amount of hours they spend on work despite negative consequences such as damage to their health or relationships.
Although workaholic behaviours existed among employees for years, today’s modern and digital world really creates a new dimension to the concept of work addiction. Technology like smartphones, laptops, and tablets provides opportunities to work from anywhere anytime and for some people, that means working all the time. The ability to take work home blurs the line between work and leisure, as many people feel compelled to continue working long past the official work hours. After Covid, most people are working from home and that has in fact contributed to working even at odd hours. Often, there is an expectation that people will be available during evenings, weekends, and even vacations.
The inability to detach from work may initially appear to result in increased productivity. Over time however, productivity decreases, health issues may occur and relationships tend to breakdown. One of the study conducted by Kansas State University found that people who work more than 50 hours per week were likely to suffer both physical and mental health consequences.
Working long hours also sets up an interesting dynamic. The more people work, the more money they earn. But the longer hours reduce the amount of leisure time available to enjoy spending some of the money. Without even realising, life can quickly become all work and no play if you are not careful.
Being a workaholic should not be a status symbol – instead it should be treated as a serious condition. Unlike people who merely work long hours, workaholics struggle to psychologically detach from work. It will lead to stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Stress levels in workaholics are therefore often chronic, which leads to ongoing wear and tear on the body.
Perhaps the best course of action is to develop self-awareness of any tendencies you may have to become a workaholic. Monitor the time you are putting into work and take notice when your work life is creating problems in your personal life. Practicing disengagement, taking regular vacations, and setting healthy boundaries can help you develop a work-life balance that will prevent you from becoming a workaholic. It is important to set clear rules for how many hours you will work each day. This can help you accept that there is a point at which you have done enough work for the day. Taking up enjoyable non-work activities, such as seeing friends, watching a movie, reading a book, or learning a new skill, can also help you psychologically detach from work.
Managers too can intervene by helping employees find intrinsic motivation; they can re-engage them in their work and provide more support. They can help hard workers develop stronger communication and time management skills, with tactics such as making a to-do-list each week, making a long-term goal list, differentiating between urgent and non-urgent tasks, and scheduling non-interrupted time for important tasks. Friends and family can also play a role by making sure that employees have emotional and tangible support at home.
Some workaholics are aware of their obsessive work habits and friends and family will often warn them about the possible health risks. But a common defense is that they love their jobs. Loving your job and being passionate about your job is different to being obsessed with your work and letting it affect other aspects of your life.
Ultimately, a proper work-life balance is the key. It is extremely important for your overall wellbeing and cannot be underestimated.
Focusing on your work engagement and ability to ‘switch off’ when necessary will go a long way in helping any employee feel happy at work and outside of it.