Workaholics are on the rise in the U.S., even though working more hours may not mean more productivity and could be detrimental to a person’s physical and social well-being.
“Workaholics tend to be less effective than other workers because it's difficult for them to be team players, they have trouble delegating or entrusting coworkers, or they take on so much that they aren't as organized as others,"
reported Psychology Today.
Workaholism is a psychological condition that has a foundation in a person’s upbringing. People who work overly long hours and are too dedicated to work tend to come from dysfunctional families and use work as a means to control life situations.
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“Workaholism is an addiction, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it's not the same as working hard or putting in long hours," Bryan Robinson, PhD, said, according to Psychology Today.
Below are five ways to know if you may be a workaholic:
1. You Work Longer Hours Than the Rest of the Office
Workaholics are notorious for always being at work. If you are always the first one in the office and the last to leave, you could be working too much. “Many of us believe that the best way to get more work done is to work more hours. But the reality is that we’re more productive when we build in intermittent periods of renewal during our day,”
Stephanie Marston, bestselling author, told the U.S. News and World Report. Sometimes taking that half-hour lunch break may actually boost your productivity.
2. When You Are Not At Work, Your Mind Is Still There
“A workaholic is someone on the ski slopes who is dreaming about being back in the office,”
Robinson told Forbes. Relaxation helps the human mind and body rest, while thinking about work constantly is more likely to lead to stress. Relaxing is more likely to make the hours at the office more productive than will stressing at home.
3. You Feel Physically Ill
When someone is constantly working, they are more likely to grab for junk food or entirely skip meals or exercise. Putting in too many hours or stressing constantly can also throw off sleep schedules, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems, migraines, and mental health issues. Sitting at a desk all day could also lead to back or neck issues.
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4. You Cannot Feel Accomplishment
Workaholics tie their success to their work, and because they are working constantly and set too high of a bar, they are never satisfied. Perfectionism causes workaholics to strive for often unattainable goals.
5. Strained Social Relationships
Working too much puts tension on relationships. Divorce rates are 40 percent higher for couples with at least one workaholic partner, Forbes reported. Friends and family members of workaholics may feel like the person is never around, or when they are, do not care about anything other than work.
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