People generally have negative perceptions about someone they think is a workaholic. He is someone who works more than he has to, which gives the impression that he is irresponsible towards others as well as himself. However, is workaholism really just an unhealthy addiction? You can probably feel that the answer is not so clear-cut. The topic of workaholism and the fact that hard work might not always be bad, neither for us nor for those around us was the topic of a recent article in Psychology Today written by Elliot D. Cohen, an expert on philosophical counseling.
Cohen points out that many people who work hard do not comply with the typical negative definition of workaholism. On the contrary, their work has a wider importance for them, as well as others. It is not just an escape from their personal problems, but an example of their moral and social principles. Typical examples of such people could include a doctor who is trying to find a cure for a disease, a teacher who wants to show something important to his students, and many others. Of course, even these people can be workaholics in the negative sense, but not necessarily and not always. How can you find out if your work habits are harmful? Try answering the following questions.
-
Does your work fulfill you by helping you grow intellectually, emotionally, professionally or morally?
-
Do you work longer hours without experiencing significant stress or pressure associated with it?
-
Can you stop thinking about work when you need to sleep well?
-
Can you find time to spend quality time with your loved ones?
-
Can you manage other routine parts of your life such as bills, household chores, hygiene, etc.?
If you are not able to answer all these questions affirmatively, then you should probably really shorten the time you devote to work. Typical warning signs include anxiety and fear associated with your work, your work encroaching excessively on your personal life or working instead of sleeping. If you do not have these problems, you do not have to change your habits just because someone thinks you are a workaholic. Being satisfied with what you do is more important.
-kk-