Work addiction is very common in our society today, yet it is not one that is not highly recognised.
An interesting article in the March edition of The Success Report published by Success Technologies stated:
"Of all the addictions receiving attention today (including alcohol, drugs, gambling and food) work addiction is perhaps the least recognised and possibly the most dangerous.
This is because a work addiction is a compulsion that is rewarded and reinforced by society. In particular, it's rewarded by corporations that encourage overwork as the norm. The lure of work is increasing as innovative, flexible companies use and reward fewer people to get more accomplished.
Yet work addiction should not be confused with hard work; So how can you tell if you're just working hard or have crossed the line into work addiction?
When work begins to hurt, you're addicted, say specialists. But how can you spot the work addict among your colleagues? According to Workaholics Anonymous, these characteristics are common to compulsive over-workers:
The Characteristics of Work Addicts
They are usually in a hurry
They have a strong need to control
They expect perfection of themselves and others around them
They have difficulty in relationships
They forget birthdays and anniversaries
They are unable to relax and have fun
They are impatient and irritable
They suffer from physical problems usually brought on because of stress, poor eating habits and lack of exercise such as headaches, fatigue, indigestion, allergies, stomach upset, ulcers, chest pain, shortness of breath, nervous tics and dizziness
Addicted workers often try to do several things at once. They eat breakfast while balancing figures, return phone calls while typing on the computer, or read the business and trade papers while going over meeting notes. Work addicts also feel indispensable and are consequently unable to delegate.
Yet as bad as work addiction can get, there is hope for the work addict:
Steps toward personal recovery
Take a time management course.
Reorganise your life so that work becomes proportionate to family, friends and self. Switch your focus to relaxation, exercise, nutrition and spiritual development.
Slow your work pace and also learn to eat, talk, walk and drive slower.
Learn to relax through massage or relaxation exercises.
Work in moderation and keep regular hours.
Set boundaries between work and personal life.
Strengthen family ties through shared activities and rituals.
Renew old acquaintances and join social clubs that don't include co-workers.
Learn to live in the present, truly listen to others and as trite as it may sound stop and smell the roses.
www.success.net.au
The Final Word
Work should be enjoyable and satisfying, not just a means to earn a living. However, when it gets to the point where it affects your health and you find you have little time for your personal life, then it's time to take action and do something about it. If you are serious about moving forward much quicker than you would on your own, call us on (03) 9532 5497 to see how personal coaching will dramatically enhance your life.
Whatever you do, do something now! Take that first step
About The Author
Lorraine specialises in working with businesspeople showing them how to dramatically boost their productivity, reduce the stress and the mess in their lives and have more time for enjoying their life. www.office-organiser.com.au, lorraine@office-organiser.com.au
The intriguing Human psyche - more complex than the metamorphosing... Read More
Helen Keller once remarked that there was one thing she... Read More
"3 Questions, 5 Minutes a Day: Make leaps towards greater... Read More
He's been around since the dawn of humanity. His profession... Read More
If you've been around the Internet for more than two... Read More
I know you probably have heard of the movie, "The... Read More
Obviously, there are many wonderful things about having a personal... Read More
It's a well-known fact that electrons and atoms move at... Read More
Every 12 months, as the New-Year rolls around, we all... Read More
Just before the storms hit last winter, my father-in-law and... Read More
Be conscious, aware, and alert. Pay attention. Remember when you... Read More
How are you smart?Let me count the ways.Harvard professor Howard... Read More
Have you ever noticed this to be true?The best things... Read More
I was never much of an athlete growing up. Notoriously... Read More
Athletes the world over have coaches. Yet, workers whose very... Read More
It never ceases to amaze me that every time I... Read More
As responsible employers, parents, and friends, we have an obligation... Read More
Have you ever noticed how the way you feel about... Read More
Leaders today have many challenges when it comes to guiding... Read More
I looked up the definition of "to dither" before writing... Read More
I'm writing this on my laptop in a Cosi café... Read More
If you feel the heat of burn-out, it is possible... Read More
Technically, there are two types of grief groups. Informational and... Read More
Ever find yourself stuck in that awful loop of inactivity?... Read More
Three years ago, Paul left his corporate job to launch... Read More
Anybody who has visited my website at Motivation & Self... Read More
Ellen was brought up to be invisible. She was taught... Read More
Who do you consider as your worst enemy? The criminals... Read More
I hope you are sitting down as you read this!... Read More
The world is full of phonies and scammers these days.... Read More
As I work with clients as their introspective Inner Peace/Relationship... Read More
The war, taxes, the economy, increased health problems, crime on... Read More
Improve Your Life! How to Hire A Coach.A reader writes,... Read More
Where I live there seems to be a a growing... Read More
I always do a lot of thinking about good intentions... Read More
My wife says I have the strangest taste in movies.... Read More
Disappointment is an inevitable part of home-based business. Clients won't... Read More
Have you ever wished yourself away? I am not referring... Read More
It's a well-known fact that electrons and atoms move at... Read More
A recent study at the University of Florida found that... Read More
Are you maximizing your strengths and promoting your talents at... Read More
Excerpt From The Relationship Handbook: How to Understand and Improve... Read More
If you don't have the full support and understanding of... Read More
When I was first introduced to the profession of personal... Read More
There is a point at which everything becomes simple and... Read More
Things are the way you think they are, because you... Read More
Small talk used to be really hard work for me.... Read More
If you do any significant amount of driving, a simple... Read More
Have you ever found yourself in a hurry to leave... Read More
Playing Our Part:Sir Michael Costa was conducting a rehearsal, in... Read More
None of us like to think of ourselves as victims.... Read More
I heard a story recently, and wanted to share it... Read More
I am often asked how I stay happy and motivated... Read More
He's a very successful sales manger who craves results. He... Read More
Most of us know that assertiveness will get you further... Read More
"There is a time for departure, even when there's no... Read More
Okay, you have read some books on body language and... Read More
You can either choose to dwell on what happened and... Read More
As adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), we often find... Read More
Coaching is an effective process used to support individuals in... Read More
We all need to decide whether to "play it safe"... Read More
All of us would love to have personal power ?... Read More
H. Jackson Brown Jr. once wrote, Your mind can only... Read More
When Zack and Tiffany started counseling with me, they were... Read More
So, you're ready to start coaching. You either have some... Read More
Suppose that the human mind is nothing more than a... Read More
Coaching |