Back in the 1950s, people worked hard Monday through Friday, but they rested when it came time for the weekend. Employers had boundaries, and so did the employees. Today, the mix between personal and work life is smeared.
For example, an employer wants someone with round-the-clock availability when looking for potential new hires, which isn’t fair. No wonder 23 percent of American workers are burnt out, according to a recent Gallup Poll.
9. Has No Social Life
There’s no time for socializing. The only friends you have are the ones you make at work. Your work family is so close that you might even have a work wife or husband that you joke about.
10. Talks About Work Constantly
Since work is your life, there is truly little else that you talk about. Your mind is on your career, and there’s nothing else more important to you. If you must take a day off for personal matters, you’re chomping at the bit wondering what’s going on at the office.
11. Little Time for Foolishness at The Office
Even at the office, there’s a separation between career-driven individuals and those there to make a paycheck. You have little time for people who want to stand around the water cooler and gossip. It infuriates you that someone is wasting company time and affecting the bottom line.
12. Won’t Delegate Due to Control Issues
Those addicted to work often don’t know how to delegate tasks appropriately. They may start to show a worker how to do something, but they end up finishing it. The real issue is that this person is very controlling, and they don’t know how to give up that control to anyone.
They always think they can do a better job, so they take on more rather than letting someone help them. Then, in the rare instance that someone is called to help, they will micromanage and nitpick the entire time.
13. Skips Lunch and Breaks
The workaholic often doesn’t do lunch or break time. Instead, if they’re hungry, they will eat at their desk or while working. Taking even 15 minutes seems impossible, as their day is crammed from start to finish.
Other people often encourage you to take a break, or you will burn out. Sadly, you think they’re the ones with the problem as they tend to be a slacker. You see no problem with the way you’re doing things.
14. No Vacations or Personal Days
You can’t remember the last time you took a vacation or personal day. Even if you lost a relative remarkably close to you, you would use work as your excuse to keep your mind busy and cope. Your family often goes on trips but leaves you behind.
While it hurts them, it doesn’t bother you at all. You don’t have time for the beach or the mountains, as you’re needed at work. Time is money, and there’s none to lose.
15. Lives In Denial About Work Addiction
Though many people have confronted you about being addicted to work, you live in denial. It will take a serious medical issue or some other setback to open your eyes. You must address the underlying issue that’s fueling this constant need to be busy.
Perhaps you don’t want to start peeling back the layers to find out why you’re married to your job. Unfortunately, the truth is often too much to handle, and when you’re working, you don’t have time to think.
It’s interesting how the workdays and schedules have shifted in the past couple of decades. Did you know that most employers require around 47 hours each week from their employees, according to a Gallup Poll? Gone are the 9-5 pm shifts as they’ve now extended to 9-6 pm to accommodate lunch.
America is one of the most overworked countries around, and they don’t offer their employees much time for rest either. In the Netherlands, the average workweek is 27.5 hours, according to Jargan Josh. The government here encourages workers to balance work and family, and they promote part-time employment.
Could the reason why so many people are addicted to work stem from the attitude in society to push yourself to the breaking point for the almighty dollar? The same article shows that the folks in Denmark only work about 28 hours a week, and the government encourages people to have flexible schedules and a stress-free work environment.
While some of the reasons behind the work-driven culture are certainly handed down, the workaholic has their own agenda for the long hours. For them, it’s a way to escape the troubles of life and focus on anything other than their problems. In addition, they find that working gives them the ability to disappear and make money.
They justify their behavior because they’re providing for their family. However, it’s imperative to find a good work-life balance, or you will burn out quickly. You can’t work 60+ hours a week for long, as it will make you physically and mentally sick.