Do you feel good when someone calls you a ‘Workaholic’? Most probably yes, as it is natural to like being praised by others. We tend to wear the title of a “workaholic” as a badge of honour, as one who is a work addict is perceived to be a hardworking individual. But have we ever contemplated that this “compliment” isn’t a praise, rather it is a mental health problem? Workaholism is the ‘best-dressed’ mental health issue, because none of us regard it as a problem that one should feel concerned about.
So, what exactly does this word mean?
According to the Oxford dictionary, workaholism is defined as a compulsion to working excessively hard and for long periods of time. People often confuse workaholism with work engagement or dedication to one’s job. However, workaholics lack enthusiasm and passion towards work, instead they possess feelings of compulsion.
One of the key differences between the two is the motivation to work. Workaholics are driven to work, due to their inner compulsion to work, whereas, engaged workers are driven as they consider it intrinsically pleasurable to work.
Workaholism is also characterised by a constant desire to work, despite its potential for negative consequences. People who possess this addiction are inclined towards working for unhealthily long hours, even when working is futile and unnecessary. Further, they are always preoccupied by work related thoughts. It is essential that one realises that being passionate about work is absolutely different from being addicted to it.
What are the factors that stem the growth of a workaholic?
Workaholics attach feelings of self-worth to work. They feel that others would respect them, only if they constantly keep working. This is because we usually view busy individuals as important people. Furthermore, many individuals turn to workaholism, in order to avoid dealing with their personal problems as this addiction provides one with a convenient opportunity to neglect the negative circumstances brewing in one’s life. In other words, workaholism acts as a band-aid for other ongoing problems.
Some workaholics tend to consider their work as a substitute for human interactions or a companion, in order to evade their solitude or fear of loneliness. Furthermore, perfectionism is indispensable to workaholics. Thus, they experience difficulty in delegating tasks to people as they fear that others would be unable to perform according to their standards. In other words, their tendency to be a control freak, leads to a heavy workload and increased working hours.
Why is workaholism unhealthy?
Being a workaholic can be harmful, due a constant mental stress that results from the inability to ‘switch off’ from one’s work. Thus, one of the major downfalls of workaholism is stress, which often leads to burnout. Further, unaddressed work burnout has significant consequences on an individual’s mental health, as it could result in anxiety or depression. Another adverse effect of workaholism is its tendency to hamper job performance.
People usually hold the misconception that one who works for long hours yields quality work, however, working compulsively does not necessarily make one a productive worker. Further, this addiction has negative impacts on one’s personal relationships. The constant pressure from work detracts one from the much-needed pleasure of spending time with one’s family and friends.
How does one deal with workaholism?
Firstly, one needs to be strict with their work-time limits. If one feels like they are pacing towards the workaholic waters, they need to realise that it might be time for them to dive towards a healthier work-life balance. This can be done by reframing one’s relationship with their work. Workaholics are known to have a race against time. However, they can use this to their advantage by stopping and starting their work at the same time every day. Further, one could also set a reminder to take mini breaks between work. This would help one relax, and one would then be able to work with a greater enthusiasm.
Secondly, adding self-care to your routine is another way to deal with this addiction, as by granting oneself time for relaxation, one would start working to live instead of living to work! Self-care helps in sharpening our physical and mental health and this would lead to better productivity and increased efficiency at work. Furthermore, self-care acts as a good stress reliever. Journaling is a part of self-care that aids in dealing with such an addiction. Workaholics tend to distract themselves from their problems, thus journaling could be a good way to address one’s problems, concerns and fears. This would provide an opportunity to recognise one’s triggers and be aware of techniques to regulate them.
Thirdly, one of the problems that workaholics experience is the inability to think beyond their work. Thus, planning the day would be beneficial. Having a plan that is simple to stick with, is an effective way in reducing workaholism tendencies. This could include sparing time to spend with your friends or family, reading a book, watching TV, going to the gym etc. This would cause one to not work beyond their stress limits. Further, it is important to remember the essentiality of having a healthy work-life balance, in order to maintain a holistically progressive and happier lifestyle.
Lastly, if all of these ways are ineffective, one should seek therapy. Therapy could be done individually, in group or as a combination of the two. Support from peers, residential treatment or simple talk therapy are some therapies that an individual can engage in. This would help in uncovering the reasons that cause one to work constantly, despite its serious implications. It would also help in assessing the problem and finding a balance between work and home.
To conclude, in today’s culture, workaholics are placed on a pedestal as workaholism is considered to be a professional behaviour. Moreover, with the world being so progressive in the field of technology and free Wi-Fi in almost every corner of the world, workaholism is an endless trap that any individual can easily fall into. It is imperative to understand that just because working is considered to be a respectable pursuit, it does not imply that work addiction is any less harmful than other addictions! Thus, be passionate, but don’t turn that passion into a life damaging obsession!
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