Workaholism: Hazards and Benefits

Work is the primary method of making a living. When work becomes your culture, your lifestyle, it is time to re-evaluate that standard of living. Here are a few signs that it is time for a workaholic to go home, and re-connect with life.

Fatigue

Nothing you read or write makes sense. Your eyes are crossed, and the room is slightly spinning. You are fatigued. Nothing of any good will come out of what you are doing. Go home.

When you wake up at 11:00 pm and are still at your work desk, do not consider it a power nap. It is time to go home.

Lately, your health has not been what it used to be. You catch colds more often; your weight has changed significantly; your joints and muscles ache all the time; you have headaches when that was never a problem. Guess what? You are working your body too much, not giving it a chance to recuperate. Decrease your work hours!

Fear

When you are working to keep up with your deadlines, when you are afraid of being demoted or transferred to an undesirable position, you need to go home and figure out how to change your work situation. Do you need help? Are you not delegating enough of your team assignments?

If you believe you are working as hard as you can, but do not feel you are making progress, maybe you need to learn how to work smarter instead of harder.

If you are working above and beyond everyone else because your boss is a bear, it is time to go home and work on your resume. It does not matter if you are well paid. For some bosses, it is considered combat pay. No job is worth putting up with a critical, negative, never-is-satisfied, verbally abusive boss.

Obsession

When you see work everywhere you go, even at the beach, it is time to pull back on your work hours. Your ability to be rational and reasonable is in jeopardy.

When you realize your friends don't bother to call you anymore, or tell you about events going on around town, it's time to go home so you can get some of those calls.

When your family no longer includes you in their activities, assuming you will not take the time off to participate, you are in a critical mass of separation. It is time to save your marriage, relationship with your children, your friends, and others who used to be part of your inner circle.

Best Reason to Go Home

The most critical time to go home is when you decide there is no reason to go home. You live alone; you have a spouse you don't care to see; your children are teenagers and seem to have their own life. You don't think it matters whether you go home or not. You are most happy when you are at work.

If you are working to avoid a home that has no more meaning to you, you are living in denial. Work has replaced what used to be a well balance life. It is now your crutch, your safety net. You need to acknowledge that you are not just a workaholic; you are in desperate need of perspective.

Just as you do an annual employee evaluation, you need to do a personal evaluation. Are you getting the most out of your personal life, and if not, why? What can or should you change? If you died tomorrow, your boss will go to your funeral, and then hire your replacement. Think about it; then prepare an agenda to shift your life back into balance.

With a web site at http://www.synergyprofessionals.com Certified Property Manager Carolyn Gibson writes about homeownership, property management, being a tenant, landlording, and having a property management business. Her book, "How to Pick the Best Tenant" can be found at her web site and at http://www.Amazon.com

In western culture it is easy to get caught up in the fast paced hype of current trends. It seems that there is not enough time to do that which we set out to do. Our tasks lists are longer than our meals with our families. Sitting down to enjoy our families or nurture ourselves is becoming a thing of the past. Unless we stop, look, and listen to how we are really doing or feeling deep inside.

I am a single mother of a teenager and I know from first hand how to be an over responsible workaholic. Being a single mom puts me in a position of being the super woman. I have to cook, clean, organize, pay bills, go to work, take care of my daughter, be the absent father, among other things I am suppose to be or do because of my position of being a single parent.

I dove into my career as an entrepreneur twelve years ago. I am in the service oriented business. My passion was to meet the needs of my clients and for twelve years I did exactly that. What I did not plan on was over working led me to burn out. I was forced to work so that I can provide and live a good life for my daughter. I thought that money was easier if I worked hard and was never home. I even worked two other jobs to make ends meet. What I found out is that my body can only do that for so long and then I got some sort of illness. This is when depression set in for me and it seems to be the highest emotional illness among single parents. I wanted to be the tough mom and the one who could "do it all" and prove to the world that I can do anything! well, that was all wrong.
The workaholic and burnout came together and I crashed. I hated my every day life, and I hated going to work, and I hated what I use to love to do. Personally and professionally I thought I had it made. wrong again. My focus was on meeting the needs of my clients and I neglected myself and everyone else around me, including my daughter. She did not deserve that but I felt I had no choice in the matter.

we all have choices and I finally took a long look at what I had been doing with my life and how it affected the lives of those around me. Yes, I would have done things differently, but I guess it was my time to learn that over working and burnout became a blessing. Why was it a sign of a blessing? Well, once I realized that I was an over doer, I took that break I needed and realized I am a better person for having gone through all what I did. I want to help others who work too much and I want them to get the help they need before they feel guilty or regret some of the things I did. My motto: "Live with No Regrets".

My advice to avoid burnout is to read articles now before it happens. Look for the signs written. If you have lost your lust for life and you are negative every day, get some help. Depression either has set in or you need to get help for your depressed thoughts. When you are depressed it affects others even if you do not think it does My only wish is that whether you are a single parent or not, over working and burnout usually go hand in hand please do not wait until its too late to get the help you need. Stop, look, and listen to the real you on the inside. Above all remember there is a higher power that cares enough about you that, "this too shall pass."

Rodney Dangerfield used to say "I get no respect!" As a workaholic, I get plenty of respect - but very little sympathy.

"Well, it's your own fault! Just stop working so much!" people say. I wish I could. I wish it were that easy. God knows I've tried.

My mind locks on a problem to be solved or a task that needs doing - and it won't rest until the problem is solved or the task is finished, beautifully. "Good enough" isn't in my vocabulary.

I try. I put things out without editing sometimes. I send memos without worrying about the consequences all the time. I even give advice off the top of my head.

But digging into research and solving hard problems gets my juices flowing. It's an ego trip. I admit that freely.

So why then do I want sympathy? Isn't what I'm doing fun?

Yes and no. Like Jim Carrey in the Mask, sometimes I just want to say: "Somebody stop me!" Pick me up by my armpits and drag me out to dinner or a movie. Make me take a walk. Force me to go to Walmart, or a park. Anything to get me away from the computer and my restless mind.

Workaholics are obsessed. That's no secret. And sometimes we're darn proud of it. But if you've ever seen a worn-out, bleary-eyed person who has lost all reason and is no longer productive - but still can't stop - then you know it's not all fun and games.

And we're killing ourselves. We eat fast food, most of us don't exercise, and we don't have friends. We don't have a life. We've forgotten HOW to have a life.

So please! Have a little sympathy. We're a little crazy and we know it. But even the smallest human kindness or attention is appreciated, believe me.

"Stop and smell the roses." Indeed!

Now just what is a rose again, remind me?

Jennifer Blair is a recovering workaholic who struggles daily to have a life.

She'll be speaking at the "Time for Me" retreat: http://www.NoTimeForMe.net

There is no doubt that well-organised and managed work helps to maintain and promote individual health and well-being. But not enough attention to good organisation and methods could result in work-related stress.

Recent statistics confirm that work-related stress is widespread in the U.K working population and is not confined to particular sectors or high risk jobs or industries. That is why a population-wide approach is necessary to tackle it.

If you believe you are suffering from work-related stress, it is important to take action and review your lifestyle to identify any contributing factors, such as the following:

• eating on the run, or in a disorganised manner
• smoking, or drinking excessively
• rushing, hurrying, being available to everyone
• doing several jobs at once
• missing breaks, taking work home with you
• having no time for exercise and relaxation.
• If your work demands exceed your capacity and capability to cope, it can be a significant cause of mental health symptoms, especially stress. Further knock-on effects can include high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other indicators of organisational underperformance - including human error.

Dealing with work-related stress

There are two ways to deal with work-related stress:

1) To treat the 'patient' who experiences the stress via diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation;

2) To assess and repair the failed work system or organisation. This latter action reduces the risk of future failure and the likelihood of future work-related ill-health. It also focuses attention on the reasons for the work-related stress in the first place, i.e. the design and management of the work itself. Of course, intervention at the individual level also has a part to play.

Advice for managers

If staff take time off work because of work-related stress, getting them back to work as quickly as possible is important. A well managed early return to work will reduce the risk of the absence becoming long-term. In general, people find it more difficult to return to work after a long-term absence.

Managers should ensure they keep in regular contact and have frequent progress discussions with returning employees. This will help identify what caused them to take sick leave and the necessary adjustments the firm needs to make. Equally, the employee needs to regularly review their situation with their GP or mental health professional. There may also be factors outside work that contributed to the person's work-related stress. When the employee feels ready to return to work, a 'staged return' - for example, working part-time hours for the first few weeks - can help ease them back into their work.

As stress at work is often linked to specific problems, (e.g. having too much to do in too short a time), it may be worth thinking about practical steps or adjustments that may help the employee when they return.

If the person has found it difficult to cope with particular tasks involved in their job, temporary adaptations and/or changes to the job may provide valuable breathing space by reducing immediate work pressures on return.

Is the person clear about what their job involves and what is expected of them? If not, a review may clarify the aims of the job and the tasks they are expected to complete. Employees returning to work after being away with stress often prefer a period of stability. If changes are unavoidable, the employee needs to be fully involved and consulted.

Is work-related stress out of control? How did we get to this stage?

From the 1970s onwards fashionable trends have pushed us towards the headache that is dual-income workaholic consumerism. From post-war rationing and marginal deprivation grew an increasingly affluent society - one in which to be without consumer goods was to be poor. Initially it became essential to possess a telephone, washing machine and car, but then the range of 'indispensable' goods grew out of all control. Additionally, in response to longer hours and rising incomes, the cost of housing shot up to swallow much of rising incomes. In effect, consumption became a need, not just a want.

Women in particular soon became 'losers' in this new affluent age, even though at first they didn't realise it. Although initially satisfied, even thrilled, with the balance between work and domesticity, progressively they have been forced to adjust to competitive consumption and status pressures by spending more time at work, and having fewer children. Marital stress and family breakdown increased due to anxious behaviour and troubled prospects for the children.

As women poured into the workforce in order to maintain the family's 'status', they continued to do most of the housework and be responsible for the children. Stress grew along with the dilemmas: women were left with the feeling that there was little alternative to confusing needs with wants, having with being.

As of today, British workers put in the longest hours and take the least amount of holiday in Europe, with two thirds of us working through our lunch breaks.

Stress levels in the U.K are soaring. Are we working hard because we want to, or have to? Some experts believe work has become such an important part of our identity that we only feel fulfilled if we push ourselves to achieve our career goals, even if this means neglecting our personal lives. Others believe that we are slaves to an increasingly work-focused, 24-hour society. Do we still work to define who we are, or does the increasing flexibility in our working lives signal a shift towards finding work that fits in with our lives and values, rather than the other way around. Perhaps workaholism is a problem we need to address as a society, by finding work that is more streamlined to our lives, not longer. Or is it a more personal issue: the need to identify purpose and priorities in our own lives?

One thing's for sure: unless we do something about our work/life balance, mental health issues will become an increasing burden on society as a whole.

Uticopa is a UK Therapy Network & Directory that offers online support and mental health resources, with a blog, mental health forum, articles, and access to thousands of qualified therapists in the UK. Whether you are looking to Find a Therapist, wish to learn more about a specific condition, would like to learn about therapies available or just need to share with others who might be experiencing similar problems - you can find support on Uticopa.com

We live in an era that worships a treadmill way of life in the workplace. Professionals who aspire to climb the corporate ladder typically feel compelled to jump on the workaholics bandwagon. While it may start out rather innocently, those who engage in such craziness soon find themselves sucked into a big hole, paying a very big price. Is this YOU?

Initially, there may be valid reasons for taking a huge breath, swallowing hard, and diving into those deep and dark waters. After all, how else can you demonstrate your uncommon commitment to the company of your choice? But soon you discover you cannot come up for air, cannot take a break, cannot wind down even for a day. Now you are addicted to this thing called "work". Why does this happen?

You seek attention and pity.

You want people to notice those 2:00 AM emails. You hope somebody is concerned about those long hours you keep. You need folks to appreciate your sacrifices. Secretly, you pray that others wonder how many years you can maintain this pace without crumbling. Do you see the focus is on YOU? It's so much more about YOU than about job expectations. An occasional middle of the night message is fine; a steady flow of them is nuts.

You live to outshine your colleagues.

Not content to meet or exceed your own professional standards, you constantly compete against colleagues, especially those you dislike. You want to prove to the boss that YOU are the marathon runner, not Tom or Sue. YOU are the one who will endure, suffer, and sell your soul to the organization. YOU are the person who is superhuman, who rarely eats or sleeps. Again, this view is largely about YOU. How much do you actually win by shoving Tom or Sue into the shadows?

You strive to convince yourself that YOU are exceptional.

For some reason you have above average ego needs that never get satiated. Maybe even some need to self-aggrandize. An ongoing anxiety whispers doubts into your ear from morning to night. Perhaps your craving to be recognized as better than others stems from a deep seated feeling of inadequacy. It's worth considering. You don't need to be unique; just be your best self. Develop your talents in ways that truly serve others, and that alone allows you to make a positive mark in the world.

You desperately need to dodge pain.

You're in the middle of a messy divorce. Or maybe you've got a teen in trouble. Your mother has cancer. You fight daily with your partner. Your abusive childhood still drags you down. Ring any bells? Working around the clock provides a convenient escape from acute or chronic sadness, frustration, or fear. Working until you can't think straight numbs the pain. If this describes YOU, don't delude yourself into believing you've got the company's best interests at heart. Face the fact that you're using company business as an excuse for avoiding nasty family issues. In the process, you end up compounding your already thumping headache.

Regardless of why you run the treadmill, you have lots to lose. Whether short term or long term, these losses are serious:

You lose clarity about your personal values and priorities.

Everything becomes cloudy when your hours are consumed only by work. If you once understood what mattered most to you, that clarity is now gone. The deception lies in thinking that you really are on target by doing your job nonstop. All of this gets very seductive if you aren't careful. When you no longer know what you value, you can't set priorities. When you aren't sure of your priorities, you just fill up the time doing things that may not serve you. Life becomes futile without a road map.

You forfeit quality relationships with family and friends.

Workaholism kills relationships. How much time do you invest in your spouse, significant other, children, and friends? When you are with them, are you present physically but not emotionally? Do you find yourself reflecting on problems at work instead of immersing yourself in their company? Or maybe you hardly show up at all, often missing your son's baseball games and your wife's birthday celebrations. Do you see yourself here? If your wife dies in a car accident, count on being consumed by regret. You can't rewind the clock. What is done is done. However, today you can choose something different. What will that be?

You give up control of your calendar.

What determines YOUR calendar? Obligations? Little tasks? Time wasters? Meetings that have nothing to do with the big picture? Time becomes a burden rather than a blessing when YOU fail to take charge of your 24/7. Today, everybody's mantra seems to be: "I'm so busy." Busy dong what? Do you honestly know what you are doing and why you are doing it? Or are you floating along like a leaf in the breeze, with no destination in mind?

You sacrifice your health.

Treadmill stress increases your chances of a heart attack, stoke, and/or sudden cardiac arrest. It impacts your sleep, digestion, memory, and ability to focus. It makes you vulnerable to colds and sore throats. Taking little or no time to relax and refresh has notable consequences. Is this the kind of existence you've designed for yourself? If so, you may be cutting years off your life. Even if you don't shorten its length, you may reduce the quality. Why pay the price of chronic physical illness that robs you of zest and joy? Why turn into a mentally compromised zombie? Whatever happens to you, know that you lose.

Keep in mind that your boss won't thank you someday for choosing the life of a partially functioning invalid. Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate your goals and direction.

Sylvia Hepler, Owner and President of Launching Lives, is an executive and career coach/adviser based in South Central Pennsylvania. She connects with clients primarily by phone with in-between emails if desired. Her ideal clients are senior level corporate executives and nonprofit executive directors who are willing to commit to working steadily and diligently to move from their current status of stuckness to greater clarity, improved self-confidence, increased skill, and deeper sense of purpose. Her mission is to support executives as they get unstuck, reduce unnecessary suffering, and increase balance in their lives. Ms. Hepler's background includes: teaching, public speaking, retail sales, freelance writing, and executive leadership of a 14 county nonprofit organization. She has a working knowledge of staff supervision, Board development, Quality Management, SWOTT Analysis, the hiring and firing of employees, mission/vision development, networking, and organizational collaboration. Ms. Hepler demonstrates keen insights into human behaviors, exceptional ability to prioritize projects and tasks, and bulls eye skill around matching appropriate communication strategies with particular situations. Her deep empathy coupled with a no-nonsense approach yields swift, noteworthy results with most coaching clients. PRODUCTS: Ms. Hepler has written a "Special Report" entitled, "FIVE FATAL FLAWS in EXECUTIVE THINKING", produced an audio CD on "making change", and launched a monthly tele seminar series called "Solutions By Sylvia". CONTACT: Sylvia@launchinglives.biz 717-761-5457