In a world where we are always active and in constant motion, being productive is a necessary rule to be able to have a good stability and achieve that dream that we have longed for so much. However, how long is it healthy to work? Daily tasks can affect us, even to a greater extent, than the benefits it brings us.
That is, when we put in overtime, take on more workloads, have more demands to meet, all on our own, we are subjected to constant stress that increases and even worsens. All this can cause us to develop physical, emotional and mental ailments that can become serious disorders such as anxiety, or in more serious cases, depression.
What is addiction to work?
Work addiction is also known by its Anglo-Saxon name workaholic or literally, workaholics. It refers to the excessive, unrealistic and obsessive need to work persistently and for a long time, where perfection is the goal to be achieved and relaxation or rest are concepts that do not exist because they are not allowed.
These people also have the need to have control over everything they do, they prefer to work alone, they are too critical of themselves , they avoid as much as possible delegating functions to those under their charge and they move away from any type of social interaction when point of affecting their family or intimate life.
The term arose in 1971 when a professor in the United States, recounted in his book his addiction to work and directly compared it to an addiction to alcohol or other psychoactive substances. This characterization being the key to this condition, altered pleasure and compulsive irritation if you are not working.
The consequences of the workaholic or addiction to work
Although there is no specific medical or psychological term for this addiction, it is recognized as a danger to the person’s physical health, because it can be the cause of other mental and emotional disorders, according to the World Organization for Health (WHO).
Among the most common consequences can be observed: stress, anxiety, constant worries, anticipatory thoughts, insomnia, eating disorders, irritability, aggressiveness, inability to relax and health complications such as cardiovascular and respiratory problems, hypertension, ulcers, gastric problems, and muscular tension, among others.
Important keys to recognize addiction to work
There is a certain profile of workaholics that will help you recognize them or begin to assess whether you belong to this group. Attention to these keys:
- They are particularly obsessed with doing complicated jobs and have compulsive tendencies to take more responsibility than necessary, to the point of being on the verge of occupations. They don’t know how to say no.
- They don’t usually take breaks, not even for lunch. This also includes reducing the normal hours of sleep or working on days off, for which they have excessive dedication, working more than the regulatory hours.
- They are highly competitive, selfish and do not know how to work as a team. This is due to their need for control and perfection, leading them to carry out all the work on their own even though it is easier or faster to finish if responsibilities are delegated.
- They do not give value to the work process, but to the result obtained, so they decide if something is acceptable or not depending on the latter. This also leads to the fact that they are not able to draw any lessons from their failures or failures.
- They have something called the ‘King Midas complex’, according to which they are convinced that without them the work cannot be carried out satisfactorily. And if something goes well, it’s thanks to them.
- They have serious problems with their social relationships, as they reach the point of neglecting and abandoning their partners or families. They also look for excuses not to go out with friends or do any recreational activity.
4 Different Causes of Work Addiction
There are various origins that derive this condition in people and below you will know what they are:
Family pressure
This is perhaps the most common cause of all and is due to the pressure that parents place on their children to do everything perfectly. Not only that, but the achievement has also been reinforced, that is, a success has been rewarded and a failure punished, thus dismissing the process and preventing positive learning from it.
Feelings of guilt
Many of the responsibilities that we attribute to ourselves are due to a feeling of guilt, because others cannot have a good job or because something bad will happen if we don’t. From here the tendencies to not say ‘no’ to anything or not to enjoy the breaks or achievements developed develop.
Organization problems
This is a more personal feature. Those people who are a bit chaotic and disinterested in time tend to fill every existing gap even though they don’t have an order to do them. They are always doing everything, all the time, without planning and definitely without help.
Lack of trust
Both in others and in themselves (despite the fact that the latter sounds contradictory). The refusal to work in a team may be due to a resistance to trust others to do the job and not let you down. While the need for control is explained through the insecurity of being attacked at a vulnerable moment, for this reason it is preferred to work alone, where no one can judge or observe.
Tips to avoid or treat work addiction
Work addiction can be somewhat complicated to treat, however, there are some measures that you should take into consideration to achieve it:
Acknowledge that you have a problem
Working hard is fine, pushing yourself unnecessarily is not normal. Although we are in a world where proactivity and quick problem solving is highly appreciated, it must also be kept in mind that for this it is necessary to have a good well-being. If you are constantly stressed, tired or irritated, you will not perform as well as when you are energized and rested.
Go to therapy
Work addiction can be overcome, so the best recommendation is to go to psychological therapy. By discovering and facing the true origin of this problem with the help of a professional, those irrational beliefs can be solved and put aside.
Change your thoughts
Changing your thoughts can be quite difficult and even somewhat intimidating, but it is a most valuable piece of advice. For example, you can take breaks not as a waste of time but as a space to reflect or to celebrate your triumphs.
Start carrying an order
Make good use of your need for control and start organizing your day, you can keep an agenda where you put all the tasks you need to carry out. This way you can see how busy you are and if it is possible to take on other responsibilities. Of course, when the agenda is full for the day, do not add more.
Create a daily routine
Creating a daily routine from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed will give you a greater sense of control over the day and help you relax. Do not forget to include small breaks to rest, a while to be with your loved ones and a good night’s sleep.
Combine rest with sleep
Another good idea is to combine rest time with preparation for bed. That is, before you go to bed, try to disconnect a bit from the world. To do this, you can turn off all your devices, take a bath with hot water, drink a relaxing herbal tea , find your most comfortable pajamas and put on some background music. You will see how sleep comes in a more restful and deep way.
Do you suspect that you may be addicted to work? You already know the causes and the most useful advice to disconnect, but do not forget that the most important thing is to put yourself in the hands of a psychology professional so that they can help you according to your case and your needs. You can get over it!