Where is the line drawn?
Did you know July 5 was National Workaholics Day? I didn’t. I was too busy working.
Had I known, I probably would have written this post sooner. National Workaholics Day was not created to celebrate workaholics. It simply reminds people of the importance of finding a good balance between home and work life.
Understanding workaholism is important because it can erode your health as well as relationships with your spouse, children, friends, co-workers and employees. Workaholism can also have a negative effect on how you are perceived by potential buyers of your company.
I understand workaholism, because I am a workaholic. It has taken a toll on both my personal and professional lives.
Here are a few simple facts about workaholism.
Working long hours doesn’t necessarily mean you are a workaholic.
Sometimes you must work long hours to finish a project by a given deadline. That’s fine, as long as you can take time off when the deadline has passed, then revert to normal working hours.
Unlike people who love their jobs and are willing to put in extra hours every now and then, work is a central part of a workaholic’s identity.
Workaholics can’t stop obsessing about work, even in their off hours. They often spend way too much time in the office because they feel guilty and insecure when they aren’t working. They equate being busy with being important to the organization.
Having a good work ethic is different than being a workaholic.
People who have a good work ethic are punctual, productive, and show initiative. They maintain a focus on work during working hours, but can focus on family, friends, and hobbies when the workday is done.
Workaholics have trouble sleeping and feel emotionally exhausted because they can’t stop thinking about work. They often spend more time working than is necessary to finish their assignments.
Workaholic tendencies exist in different forms.
According to psychologist Barbara Killinger, some workaholics are “pleasers” who can’t say no. They accept more work than they can handle because they want to be liked. But in their quest for admiration, they repress the “being-feeling” side of their personalities.
Other workaholics are “controllers” who “crave the kind of power that allows them to always be in control.” They can be arrogant, intense, impulsive, and demanding. Controllers also suppress the being-feeling side of their personalities and have more business-related acquaintances than intimate friends.
“Perfectionists” have workaholic tendencies because they, too, have trouble detaching from work. Because they never feel satisfied with the quality of their work, perfectionists often work long hours attending to every project detail. They feel driven to work more, better, or faster.
Workaholics can change.
Like any addiction, the first step to changing workaholic behavior is to recognize when your relationship to work is unhealthy. Reflect on why you feel the need to work so much, and try to see if from your spouse’s point of view.
Some workaholics were raised by workaholic parents and consider it normal to work crazy-long hours. Other workaholics aren’t motivated to change because they get rewarded for working hard and delaying gratification.
Here are a few other steps to consider if you want to change your workaholic ways:
- Set a strict limit on the number of hours you work each day
- Schedule time for exercise or other activities that let you detach from work
- Take some time off after meeting a major deadline to recover from the stress
- Commit to spending more time with friends and family
- Seek professional coaching and counseling
Why It Matters
Attitudes about workaholism are changing. While business owners struggled to keep their businesses afloat during the COVID shutdowns, many employees suddenly had time to contemplate new interests and reconsider how much time they spent at work. Now, some employees shy away from working in environments in which workaholism and perfectionism are rewarded.
The health risks are real. According to research reported in the Harvard Business Review, workaholics are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases or diabetes than engaged employees who love their jobs and work long hours occasionally.
Regardless of the number of hours worked, workaholics reported more health complaints, emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and depressive feelings than people who could switch off work every day to focus on family, social activities, hobbies, or exercise.
An unhealthy attachment to work affects how you are perceived by potential buyers of your business. Workaholic business owners who feel compelled to control every little detail of their businesses may be inhibiting company growth. Leaders who can’t delegate decision-making limit the development of leadership teams that can carry on the business after the company is sold.
RECOMMENDED READING
Workaholics Anonymous: The 20 Questions (that can help you determine if you are a workaholic)
Harvard Business Review: How Being a Workaholic Differs from Working Long Hours – and Why That Matters for Your Health by Lieke ten Brummelhuis and Nancy P. Rothbard
They Named You Right by Rock LaManna
I was a workaholic and it cost me dearly.