Colloquially, a workaholic is a person who is addicted to work. This phrase does not always imply that the person actually enjoys their work, but rather simply feels compelled to do it. There is no generally accepted medical definition of such a condition, although some forms of stress, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be work-related. Although the term “workaholic” usually has a negative connotation, it is sometimes used by people wishing to express their devotion to one’s career in positive terms. The “work” in question is usually associated with a paying job, but it may also refer to independent pursuits such as sports, music, art, or blogging.
A “workaholic” in the negative sense is popularly characterized by a neglect of family and other social relations. The term has no clinical definition, however.
The name itself is a play on “alcoholic”.. Although “workaholic” is not an official medical or psychological term, it remains in widespread usage to refer to those whose expenditure of time on work and work-related issues leads to the detriment of their bodily health, social lives, family and domestic life, or leisure time.

Are you a Workaholic?

Are you obsessed with your work? Is work dominating your life, replacing family, friends and outside interests? If you hesitate to say “no,” think again. Your habits — whether those of a workaholic or “Type A” personality — may be jeopardizing your health and career.
First identified in 1959 by San Francisco cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman, Type A describes common behavior patterns found among patients being treated for heart disease. Type A people share a chronic sense of urgency and have a tendency to be in constant overdrive. Because they suffer from “hurry sickness,” they worry about every wasted moment. They display hostility in a traffic jam, anxiety when they miss the bus and impatience when they have to wait in line. They clench fists, bang tables, twist and fidget, often acting as if there is an emergency or a life-threatening situation.
At the office, Type-A personalities work hard and fast to achieve. They set backbreaking deadlines and frequently bring work home. They are highly competitive, impatient and prone to anger if someone gets in the way of their success. Rarely, if ever, are they able to leave the job at the office.
All of this fast-forward pace can exact a high price. Medical and psychological problems attributable to workaholism and stress have emerged as major health hazards. Reportedly, 50% to 80% of all diseases have their origins in stress, and eight of the top 10 causes of death are stress-related. Type A behavior has been accepted as the prime risk factor for heart disease by the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Workaholics steeped in Type A habits are prime candidates for stress-related illnesses including ulcers, high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Clearly, the possible risk of work obsession is high. There is a line to be drawn, however, between healthy, ambitious work habits and workaholism. You may be thinking, “I bring work home. Am I headed for disaster?” or, “I hate to wait in line at the movies. Does that mean I’m Type A?” The accompanying quiz is designed to help you assess your work habits.

Characteristics of a Workaholic

Like other “aholics,” the workaholic has an unhealthy addiction. In this case, the addiction is for work, career, or a belief that they are “the only one who can do the job right.” Without this consuming focus, the workaholic may believe he’s a failure or has little worth. Often, this is a sign of insecurity or having priorities out of order.
Workaholics will spend most of their lives at work or taking work home with them. They will often have little time for personal lives — family, hobbies, or relaxation. Having a balance is not just a preferable desire; it is needed for overall mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health.

How to reduce Workaholism

The key is making time away from work — totally away from work — to get your life back in balance. It will take some effort on your part — and perhaps the part of a friend or spouse — to make the shift from a sole focus on work, but for your mental and physical well-being, you really should make the effort.

  • Block out “personal time” to spend with family and (non-work) friends.
  • When on the road for business, call home regularly to stayed connected.
  • Learn how to delegate work — and learn to say no to new assignments (or at least learn not to be the first to volunteer to take the assignment).
  • Take time off, perhaps starting with a long weekend and gradually moving up to longer vacations — and leave work behind.
  • Consider an exercise routine — after clearing it with your doctor — to get your body back to a healthy shape. And better, have a friend or significant other as your exercise buddy to make it more fun (and to keep your mind off work while working-out).
  • Consider volunteering — to help others and to meet new people.
  • Convince yourself it is ok to sometimes just sit and relax and do nothing.
  • Find a hobby or two.
  • Fight the urge that everything you do must be perfect — to your standards.
  • Accept that we all need a decent number of hours of sleep.
  • If you find yourself not able to do any of these suggestions, consider getting professional help to deal with what is basically an addiction.

When we are physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally well balanced, everything we do is going to be affected. We perform better at our jobs; we enjoy less-stressed relationships with our loved ones, and finally we can enjoy the purpose and beauty of life that God has provided for us. You know, a “stop and smell the roses” appreciation.

How can you help?

You can help the workaholic once you understand the condition. A workaholic is someone who has a compulsive desire to work. A workaholic can never have enough work to do; they always want more to do. Workaholics can view their compulsive behavior to work as both a pleasure, or in certain situations as a burden.
Workaholics can be helped, but it will take some time and effort by both the workaholic and the person trying to help them. How can you help someone avoid becoming a workaholic? The first thing you must do is to recognize some of the warning signs of a workaholic.
Workaholics are usually the ones that:

• Have a hard time relaxing.
• Take their work home and even to bed with them.
• Try to do work on vacations and weekends.
• Love to work more than 40 hours a week.
If someone you love has any one or more of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that he/she is a workaholic. It does mean that a revaluation of life is in order.

Different Types of Workaholic :

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 co-workers, or they take on so much that they aren’t as organized as others.
In fact, his research indicates four distinct workaholic “working styles”:

  • The bulimic workaholic feels the job must be done perfectly or not at all. Bulimic workaholics often can’t get started on projects, and then scramble to complete it by deadline, often frantically working to the point of exhaustion — with sloppy results.
  • The relentless workaholic is the adrenaline junkie who often takes on more work than can possibly be done. In an attempt to juggle too many balls, they often work too fast or are too busy for careful, thorough results.
  • The attention-deficit workaholic often starts with fury, but fails to finish projects — often because they lose interest for another project. They often savor the “brainstorming” aspects but get easily bored with the necessary details or follow-through.
  • The savoring workaholic is slow, methodical, and overly scrupulous. They often have trouble letting go of projects and don’t work well with others. These are often consummate perfectionists, frequently missing deadlines because “it’s not perfect.”

Difference between Hard Work and Workaholism

Hard work put us on the moon and discovered vaccinations and built this country.But hard workers generally have some balance in their lives. They sit at their desks and think about skiing. The workaholic is on the ski slopes thinking about work.
Their obsession with work is all-occupying, which prevents workaholics from maintaining healthy relationships, outside interests, or even take measures to protect their health.
These are people who may have children, but miss Little League games and school plays when they don’t have to, not because they have to be at work but because they feel they need to. They neglect their health to the point of devastating results and ignore their friends and family. They avoid going on vacation so they don’t have to miss work. And even if they do go on vacation, they aren’t fully present because their mind is still on work.
As with any other ‘aholism,’ there is often a lack of understanding as to how their work addiction affects themselves and others. Often, they only realize their problem when something catastrophic happens to them — their health completely fails or their marriage or relationships are destroyed.

Sources: Wikipedia, All About Life Challenges, Quintcareers

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