Remember when your grandma told you to not work yourself into the ground? Well that’s what most of us are doing everyday. Not only does it wreak havoc on your health but also it doesn’t even mean you are being more productive.
There was a recent online study in which researchers found that the condition of being a workaholic is associated with having a Type-A or “perfectionist” personality. They concluded that it is in fact possible to have an addiction to work that leads to many negative individual, interpersonal and organizational outcomes.
Before, workaholism meant simply being devoted to or engaged in extra work because you love what you are doing so much. Now, it is being described as working oneself to the point of no longer being productive, and even thriving on the adrenaline rush that comes with pressure, even if you don’t enjoy what you are doing. It can even be a type of compulsive disorder linked to perfectionism. Reportedly, approximately 10% of the US population has this type of disorder right now.
Patterns and norms in various workplace cultures have also changed from as little as a decade ago. The majority of people are now working longer days with fewer vacations. Even more concerning is the fact that many offices are facilitating these norms by providing amenities like beer taps and nap rooms where employees can blow off steam, rather than just allowing staff members to have consistent hours and vacation time. This has led to issues for many including stress, heart disease, sitting all day, strains on relationships and even premature deaths.
Despite the fact that health risks have been linked with being overworked, not to mention a decline in daily productivity, this addiction to work is often celebrated and ingrained in the culture of a workplace. We are all constantly connected to our phones and taking time off can sometimes be unthinkable. With this in mind, it’s important to actively set work limits and boundaries to ensure a positive work-personal life balance.
