Rediscovering Balance

Working Mothers Can Break Free from Workaholism

Ever wonder if you are a workaholic?

There are clues to workaholism in your attitude about your job – your level of enthusiasm, your commitment, and your level of involvement.

We may be compulsive about our work, perfectionistic, or merely achievement oriented. Some of us insist on doing our job perfectly or not at all. Some of us are relentless and compulsively driven to work quickly and meet deadlines, while others of us savor our work, finding it difficult to stop working because we are preoccupied with details.

Several behavioral tendencies exist among most workaholics - spending discretionary time in work activities, thinking about work when not at work, and working beyond organizational or economic requirements.

Overworked © Yuri Arcurs | Dreamstime.com

The variables most typically associated with workaholism, according to research, include job involvement, work stress, and work-life imbalance. Some empirical literature has proposed that workaholics experience less job satisfaction as well as less life satisfaction.

A person with workaholism may engage in compulsive work to avoid other aspects of their life, like troubling emotional issues or a personal crisis. And the workaholic may continue their behavior unaware of the negative effects that their work addiction is causing. Many workaholics often experience feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and a constant sense of pressure to perform.

Workaholism is extremely detrimental to our individual well-being. Workaholism can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. Physically, it may cause fatigue, sleep disorders, and cardiovascular issues due to prolonged periods of high stress. We workaholics are at high risk for burnout, which can severely impact both mental and physical health. Overwork also weakens our immune system and increases our susceptibility to illnesses.

Some workaholics develop a sedentary lifestyle and conditions such as obesity and diabetes due to neglect of personal health and exercise. Others develop heart disease, hypertension, or gastrointestinal problems. In addition, workaholics are more prone to secondary addictions, such as alcoholism and overeating.

So, how can you know whether you might be a workaholic?

Have you ever said these things to yourself?

• “I can’t seem to disconnect from work.”

• “I can’t stop thinking about work.”

• “I keep putting my work ahead of loved ones.”

• “I always put my work ahead of caring for myself.”

• “I can’t sleep because I have an unfinished task.”

Do you have any of these symptoms of a work addiction?

• putting in long hours in your workplace, even when not needed

• losing sleep to engage in work projects or to finish tasks

• being obsessed with work-related success

• having intense fear of failure at work

• being paranoid about work-related performance

• the disintegration of personal relationships because of work

• using work to avoid relationships

• working to cope with feelings of guilt or depression

• working to avoid dealing with a life crises like death, divorce, or financial trouble