A workaholic is a person who compulsively works excessively hard and long hours. This person believes work is the primary focus of life. Are you or someone you know a workaholic?

The American Psychological Association defines it as “the compulsive need to work and to do so to an excessive degree. A workaholic is one who has trouble refraining from work.”

Do any of these questions resonate with you? Regrettably, in a world where achievement and purpose often revolve around work, a significant number of individuals fall into the workaholic trap. While some might not even realize it, others remain composed.

Certainly, everyone strives to leave a mark in life, particularly through their careers. Undoubtedly, attaining success professionally is fulfilling. However, it shouldn’t monopolize your life’s focus. Nor should it compromise your health or impede your personal life.

Reflection questions.

Do you know the signs of workaholism?

What impact does it have on a person’s day-to-day life?

Those questions are answered below if you didn’t know. Surprisingly, many people will not deliberately want to become workaholics. Some people unconsciously lapsed into it, and now it’s a challenge to stop.

For others, it’s at its earliest stages, so it can be avoided. Learn in this post what strategies could be applied to prevent lapsing into workaholic.

1. Set boundaries as workaholic

Establishing healthy boundaries stands as a vital initial move toward change. It might feel uncomfortable initially – leaving work punctually or refraining from checking your work email outside of office hours – yet it’s a necessary step forward.

In practice, this involves setting an alarm on your phone to signal when your workday ends.

Adhering to that reminder’s sound might be tough for the first week, but behaviors typically solidify after two weeks of steady commitment.

By making this effort daily for a fortnight as prompted by your phone alarms, you are essentially training yourself for a life that’s not dominated by workaholism.

2. Decide to put off work devices after work hours

In today’s landscape, numerous companies provide their employees with work phones and laptops.

This approach is highly efficient in maintaining constant work engagement. These tools enable employers to fulfill their responsibilities seamlessly, promptly addressing urgent matters whenever they arise.

Conversely, some employers have misused these devices. They impose expectations on employees to be available even beyond work hours, including weekends.

Unfortunately, this drawback has contributed to the development of workaholic tendencies.

A perpetual anticipation of work emails and requests post-working hours has created a mental link with continuous work engagement.

Effectively handling this situation involves communicating with your boss or employer about your intention to switch off all devices after work hours.

By powering down, you eliminate the temptation to check or feel obligated to respond. This action will also clarify to your boss that you’re not expected to be responsive to any emails during this time.

Questions

What else can you do to limit the excessive urge to work?

How can you get enough rest and quality time without work-related concerns?

3. Play hard as a workaholic

Engaging in leisure activities is all about having fun and enjoying yourself. Entertainment preferences vary widely among individuals, and finding what suits you best is encouraged.

For many workaholics, there’s often a shortage of time dedicated to enjoyment.

If you find yourself lacking non-work-related activities, like hobbies, it’s never too late to start pursuing one. The options for hobbies are abundant.

Depending on your location, you might consider joining a dance, music, or singing club. Alternatively, you could explore activities like mountain climbing, trail hiking, or photography.

No matter your interests or talents, there will always be multiple enjoyable activities to choose from. Most importantly, make sure to spend quality time with family and friends, especially during weekends.

To conclude, the root cause of workaholism might originate from various sources. Some attribute it to a desire for wealth, while others believe it’s driven by the pursuit of fame.

Some consider it as a validation of success, while others think it’s the only way to appease superiors.

Prioritizing self-care and concentrating on both physical and mental well-being can help you reconnect with yourself, providing a meaningful way to navigate work-life balance.

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