ACED Magazine

Workaholism is generally associated with older folks; however, more and more teens are working every day.  It isn't just about the after-school coffee shop or the extra weekend shifts...it can also include - oh - I dunno, creating and maintaining websites...as well as other "online work".  We all know the story about the over-worked parent...

It is Saturday, your five year old daughter’s birthday. The clown who juggles and makes balloons into the shapes of animals was a great hit. Everyone loved the pizza and ice cream sundaes they could make themselves. Your daughter had a great time and now it’s time for bed. You blow her a kiss. Into your webcam! Yikes !  What’s wrong with this picture?

First of all what is a workaholic? This term was created back in the ‘70s by Wayne Oates in the book Confessions of a Workaholic. It’s a clever variation on the term alcoholic and describes a person who has a work addiction, but what do we mean by that? Don’t we all hate to work? I know I do.

We have a culture in America where hard work is admired and respected and very often we are defined by what we do for a living. When most of us think of a workaholic, we think of someone who burns the midnight oil, neglecting family and friends—but this is the extreme. A workaholic may feel that they are the only person to do a particular job. They may not trust others to do what they do...they don't like to delegate.  This person spends an excessive amount of time doing everything (not just work)...whether it involves sports, music, art or blogging (a bunch of us here are in trouble with that last one). Well, this definition is still a bit vague so I must “work” harder to make it clearer.

According to Workaholics Anonymous there are twelve signs:

1. We find it hard to love and accept ourselves.
2. We use work to escape our feelings.
3. By overworking, we neglect our health, relationships, recreation and spirituality.
4. We use work as a way to deal with the uncertainties of life.
5. Many of us grew up in chaotic homes.
6. Work has become an addiction.
7. Instead of being a haven, our home is an extension of our workplace.
8. We make unreasonable demands upon ourselves.
9. We tend to be perfectionists.
10. We tend to be over-serious and responsible.
11. Waiting is hard for us.
12. Many of us are concerned with image.

Now, if any of this resonates with you or resembles someone you love (you can’t pin this one on me) you or this person may be a workaholic. What can you do about it? Well you can join Workaholics Anonymous or check out their site for someone (hmm… likely story): http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/.

Most people with addictions do not recognize the pool they’re swimming in.  You must rely on those around you to give you a bit of personal insight.  I know this is easier said than done for the addicted ones.

No one to help you with a bit of inner enlightenment?  You can take this quiz online:  http://tools.monster.com/quizzes/workaholic/.

This, like any other addiction, can rob you of good health, relationships and take the joy out of your life.  In Japan there is a special term for death by overwork.  It’s called karoshi, and if it’s proven that a person has died from overwork, their family can receive compensation. Now that’s pretty sick to me so no karoshi, please!  Life doesn't last very long, enjoy it while you can.

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Steph   |2007-02-05 03:20:59 That's crazy. During last school year (my junior year of high school.. I'm not even in the work force yet!), I would've met all those terms except the chaotic family one. Even this year, I fit most of them. I never realized I was a workaholic. This is shocking. Reply 0   0

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