A workaholic is an individual who habitually buckles down and extends periods of time at work, now we all know that. I am a workaholic too and until now I did not know that I was one before my man (who himself was known by a workaholic according to his colleagues) called me one. And in today’s article, I will give you an example that how our thought process exactly works and what exactly this workaholic thing is. But first, let me tell you a bit about myself, I am a mental health counselor, a blogger, and a writer. My day starts at 6 am in the morning and as I have little insomnia, my day ends at after 2 am or 3 am. Well, when I am not working I either keep thinking about my blog posts about what to write next, about people I havedealt with for the entire day and keep researching on stuff. I do not take vacations or week-offs because there is no point as even if I go out my mind will be occupied with either of these thoughts. Me and my mind, we work compulsively. Even when I see people around my mind would analyze them (from a psychologists’ perspective) or when I talk to someone new I keenly listen to them (from a writers perspective because everyone has a story). And if not anything else I keep on thinking and working impulsively on my site. And as many know I have severe anxiety disorder.
Ah, I know you are already bored of reading my schedule but all workaholics (more or less) think like this and in my case, I am an extreme workaholic. But let me tell you, this is not only mere an addiction to work but a disease. Not a big mental disease but a kind of OCD. A compulsive worker’s fixation on work is all-involving, which keeps them from keeping up sound connections, outside interests, or even take measures to ensure their wellbeing. It is also a dissonant issue because even if we want to do something else, we end up working or thinking about our work-related things. But yes do not mistake it as working hard, because working hard is completely different than working continuously because we workaholics enjoy doing it, we find pleasure or relief in it. I even dream of my work-related things. LOL.
How to treat it?
Over-work has been connected to thyroid, diabetes and even coronary illness. The absence of rest/weariness can impacts affect states of mind also. Though I have never tried any of them. If you or anyone close to you is a workaholic and they want to get out of it then you may suggest them these steps.
1: Give yourself a break and try to change your mindset
2: If you have a family, try not to bring your work home
3: Set limits.
4: Figure out how to close it down. Make an agreement with yourself that you won’t work past a specific time, and respect that opportunity to close everything down.
5: Meditate on it
As I always say you can do it only if you want to do it. Things may be hard but not impossible.