Are you a workaholic?

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Work addiction causes quite a lot of psychological and physical health problems. So what are the telltale signs of a workaholic?

1. What is work addiction?

Work addiction (term: Workaholism) was first used in 1971 by psychologist Wayne Oates. He defines this as the uncontrollable need to work non-stop.
Work addiction is a complex condition in which an individual's psychological, emotional and social development is dependent on work. This is a mental health condition and it can have an impact on anyone's life. Workaholics are more common among women and perfectionist, perfectionists.

2. Signs that you are a workaholic?

People with workaholics often can't stop working (even unnecessary ones) and obsess about their work performance. Identifying the signs of work addiction will be important so you can change the condition. The signs are:
You often bring home work from the office; You often stay at the office late; You constantly check email, work messages while at home,... In addition, if your family time, eating, exercising or socializing and entertainment activities are affected by If you have a tight schedule, chances are you have workaholic tendencies.
Researchers have developed a tool to measure work addiction: the Bergen Scale. It considers 7 basic criteria to define work addiction:
You find ways to spend more time at work; You spend more time at work than you originally planned; You work to reduce feelings of anxiety, helplessness and depression; You are asked by others to reduce the amount of work but do not listen; You get stressed out if you don't work; You give up hobbies, exercise habits, and recreational activities because of your job; You work a lot leading to health damage. If you answer "often" or "always" to at least 4/7 of the questions above, then you have a workaholic disorder.

3. Women - who have a higher rate of work addiction than men

Both men can be workaholics and experience stress at work. However, many studies show that women are more prone to work addiction, and that also takes a toll on their health.
One study found that women who work more than 45 hours a week have an increased risk of diabetes. However, the risk was significantly reduced for women who worked less than 40 hours a week. Men do not face the risk of diabetes despite working longer hours.
Explain why women are often addicted to work :
They have to work harder and longer to prove they are as competent as their male counterparts; Women are often not appreciated or promoted; Women are often subjected to unequal wages relative to their ability; Women often do not receive support from managers; Women always want a balance between work and family life; They are obsessed with doing things right, not making mistakes. Under these pressures, women are prone to burnout. That's because women experience more work-related stress, anxiety, and depression than men (due to gender discrimination in the workplace and family responsibilities).

4. Consequences of being addicted to work

Experts say that, like other forms of addiction, work addiction can have many serious health consequences, including work-related stress and increased rates of quitting, anxiety, anger, depression and related symptoms such as abdominal pain, headache, ... Besides, work addiction causes stress, depression, anxiety, sleep problems,... Chronic stress increases the risk of high blood pressure and high cortisol, which can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even death.
In addition, work addiction can also affect your relationships, making you lonely, sad, isolated from others,... Especially, sometimes work addiction can coexisting with another mental health condition such as bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Despite these symptoms, workaholics often deny their condition (like a skinny person with anorexia who looks too fat in the mirror).

5. Can work addiction be treated?

Workaholics are completely treatable, as long as you recognize your problem. You can follow these guidelines for a more balanced life:
5.1 Set a stop time for work and stick to it You need to set a certain time to stop working and wait until the next day to start work. It will give you time to rest and relax. For people with workaholics, this is often the hardest step, but remember that you can work smarter - more efficiently, in less time.
A workaholic tends to think that time determines work efficiency. However, the reality is that if the job can be done in less time with better efficiency, then it is the best choice. Therefore, you should set a time limit for yourself to improve work efficiency.
5.2 Schedule activities after work You can plan to go for a walk, journal, meditate or have dinner with people after work. Creating a new habit will help you forget the obsession of work at the office. The important thing is that you need to find a hobby that is right for you. When participating in those activities, you will be distracted and no longer remember the work.
5.3 Spend more time with family and friends You should schedule yourself early in the day so you don't forget. Then, when the time is up, spend time with family and friends to mend relationships. At the same time, friends and relatives also help you relax, rest, not obsessed with having to plug in to complete the work.
5.4 Get a Psychiatrist Psychologists work with you to better understand your work needs, helping you to reduce the impact of over-indulging in work. If you are experiencing a mental health issue such as bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder, they will also help you develop the most appropriate treatment plan.
Successful people know that their time is precious but they are not completely devoted to work but also to outside activities. The balance between work and life will help each person be happier, full of energy to achieve higher efficiency at work. So, if you have a workaholic addiction, try to treat it according to the above tips!
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Reference sources: webmd.com, healthline.com