The chances of us knowing a workaholic are pretty high in this day and age. People have turned to a more career-focused view on life as they spend more and more hours on the job and significantly less time relaxing. Even when people aren’t physically at work, they are still thinking about how they can work their way up to the next promotion or pay increase.
Although workaholism is one of the most respected modern-day addictions, it’s equally destructive as gambling or alcoholism. Despite the symptoms, workaholics may be in deep denial about their addiction. Mixing work and home life causes stress, impedes on your health, and limits your time for friends and loved ones which causes frictions in relationships.
Here are 5 signs from Top Life Coach Carole Ann Rice that you may be a bit of a workaholic:
- FIRST IN, LAST OUT
If you’re arriving at work super early and leaving way past your schedule, you’re there too much. You should try and have a balanced schedule where you spend a healthy amount of time relaxing at home and have a solid 8-hour work day. After all, if you’re tired and unmotivated, you’re significantly less likely to be productive which eliminates those extra hours spent at work. - CONSTANTLY OVERWHELMED
This should be a rather obvious sign, but few will be brave enough to admit it. Being overwhelmed can lead to a variety of nasty symptoms. The worst part is that you get used to it. It starts to feel familiar — even normal. You don’t notice how much it’s affecting you, even as it takes a heavy toll. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the common warning signs and symptoms of stress overload. - DELUSIONAL WORKER
If everyone is telling you that your workload is too much – it probably is. The reason why other people have wise words is that they’re away from the situation at hand, so they see it from a different perspective. Your disproportionate view of how much is enough will eventually lead to problems because you cannot recognise your limits and capabilities. - IT’S MY FAULT
Sharing this view that everything is your responsibility can have a disastrous effect on the way you work. Working is about teamwork and delegation – not about doing everything yourself. It is impossible for one person to manage every aspect of a larger picture, so you need to realise that you aren’t responsible for everything that happens in the workplace. - CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS
Work should not be more important than your loved ones and those who care about you. If work is beginning to change the way you interact with people and the relationships you have, something needs to change. In some extreme cases, people begin to feel love and meaning from work as substitutes from the human connection which can be damaging. The cycle can be vicious because workaholics often need prodding from family and friends to seek help when the balance of life is tilted too much toward work.