Workaholism or too much work involvement refers to the excessive time an employee spends on working. Simply put, this suggests a dreadfully high drive to work even when there is no enjoyment. Workaholics often put their work before other things in their lives, and this is why they have low life satisfaction and poor work-life balance.
Who is a Workaholic?
Workaholics are people who are addicted to their work big time. These people live under an impression that they are the most suitable to finish a certain job due to their desire for perfection. They find it difficult to relax and they don’t believe in prioritizing other things aside from work. Many workaholics usually take some of their work at home. In the case of true and hard-core workaholics, work can become a compulsion or even an obsession. It is possible for a workaholic not to find satisfaction in work yet they are still compelled to do the job. Workaholics also have the tendency to defend their obsessive habits at work by making claims that the long hours they spend at the office are for their families.
Slipping into the Shoes of a Workaholic
To do or achieve something worthwhile, a person can direct all his energies to a single direction and this is what makes that person a workaholic. They have a result-oriented approach and this helps them in delivering the things expected of them. Most of the time, they are also rewarded for this, and it inspires them to work more and stay glued to the job. Sadly, though, this can also lead them to a vicious cycle. Name, fame, and financial growth are the things that matter the most to them, and work is worship often becomes their credo. They don’t have any interest in forming interpersonal relationships.
The Damaging Effects of Workaholism
Memory blank-outs, anger, depression, frustration, loneliness, and stress can all creep into a workaholic’s life. Psychologists claim that workaholics get too used to their work that they no longer like anything else aside from work. This is what leads to ineffective communication, lack of genuine interest in social and recreational activities, and broken and damaged interpersonal relationships. They lack the time to laugh, meditate, or have fun. They don’t do anything that can help them unwind or revive.
How to Deal with Workaholism
The first step to address the problem is to accept the fact that you are indeed a workaholic. Workaholism is similar to alcoholism, and this can have some serious damaging effects on the person. To be exact, it can impair a person’s functioning. Experts state that one must never be consumed excessively by work to the point that one forgets how to enjoy life and its little pressures.
It is a must to balance leisure and work. This is because only when you unwind and relax that you can get the energy in putting and doing your bets. These two are interdependent. Productivity will also be at its very best when a balance is achieved and maintained.