How do I know if I'm a workaholic?

Work addiction, also known as workaholism, is an increasingly relevant phenomenon in today's society. As job demands and performance expectations increase, an increasing number of people are caught in a cycle of excessive work that can have detrimental consequences for their physical and mental health, as well as for their personal relationships and professionals. It is essential to address this problem in order to promote a balanced lifestyle and prevent the associated risks.

Let's see the keys to know if you are addicted to work paying attention to the manifestations of this problem.

How do I know if I'm a workaholic?

Workaholism refers to a pattern of behavior in which a person compulsively views dedicated to her work, sacrificing her personal, family and social life to the detriment of her well-being. Although hard work and a commitment to job responsibilities are virtues, workaholism goes beyond these values, leading to an unhealthy obsession with work that can lead to physical, emotional and relational.

This behavior presents a series of characteristics:

1. Prioritizing work over other aspects of life

Work ends up becoming the center of the person's life, which leads to neglecting the needs personal relationships, personal health and leisure activities, even in times of illness or exhaustion.

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2. Difficulty disconnecting from work and excess hours worked

They come to constantly spend time thinking about their work tasks and work beyond their working hours. Anxiety or guilt may set in if you are not working and they may have difficulty delegating tasks or taking time off.

3. Validation search through work

The self-esteem of the workaholic person is often linked to their job performance, which can lead to a constant need for professional recognition and success. This leads you to measure your personal worth through success and work achievements.

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4. Perfectionism and control over work

This can result in difficulty working in a team and an increased workload due to your reluctance to delegate responsibilities.

Causes

Work addiction can be the result of a combination of personal, social and occupational factors that influence a person's behavior:

1. personal factors

Some personality characteristics, such as perfectionism, the need for control, insecurity, and a high level of self-demand, or low levels of self-esteem can lead to seeking validation through work and their achievements professionals. So will those who have grown up in homes where work was valued excessively and job success it was considered a key indicator of personal worth.

2. Social factors

We live in a society that often glorifies hard work and extreme dedication to work, as well as competitiveness in the workplace (peer pressure) and the desire to excel in the profession, which can drive people to overwork themselves to stand out and gain recognition.

3. labor factors

Constant availability of electronic devices and Internet connection facilitate work outside of working hours. If we add to this jobs with high demands, tight deadlines, high performance expectations, lack of emotional support and emphasis on results rather than employee well-being can precipitate drug addiction job.

• Related article: "Psychology of work and organizations: a profession with a future"

What effects and consequences does workaholism have?

Its manifestation can have effects on:

• Physical Health. Chronic exhaustion and fatigue, sleep disturbances, musculoskeletal problems or chronic stress which, in turn, can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes and disorders digestive.
• Mental health. Stress, anxiety, depression, burnout syndrome (burnt worker syndrome) or substance use as a wrong coping tool.
• personal and work relationships. Deterioration of family and personal relationships, social isolation, difficulties in teamwork, disorganization and decrease in the quality of work.

What to do in the face of work addiction?

Getting a proper diagnosis is essential to devising a personalized treatment plan and effectively addressing workaholism. In addition, the diagnosis can help identify and treat other mental or physical health problems related to work addiction, such as stress, anxiety, depression or burnout. Early intervention and the right support can make a significant difference in the recovery and general well-being of the person affected by work addiction.

For her part, the cognitive behavioral therapy can help identify and modify thought and behavior patterns related to work addiction. Also family therapy can address family dynamics that can contribute to workaholism and teach skills to improve communication and emotional support in the home. Group therapy sessions will be ideal for providing a safe space to share experiences and learn from others, fostering mutual support and responsibility. Finally, we always recommend learning stress management techniques, such as meditation, progressive relaxation, and breathing. profound, as they can be helpful in reducing work-related stress and improving work-life balance staff.

Giving the importance that this term implies and being aware of its consequences is essential to guarantee a healthy and balanced life, both personally and at work. For this reason, we leave you some signs or symptoms related to work addiction so that you can address the problem in time and seek the necessary support:

• Spending an excessive amount of time at work, including on weekends, vacations, and sick days.
• Neglecting your personal, family and social life in favor of work.
• Feeling anxious, restless, or guilty when you're not working.
• Being unable to disconnect from work, even in moments of rest and free time, prioritizing work over personal relationships and leisure activities.
• Having difficulty delegating tasks and responsibilities.
• Experiencing health problems related to stress and exhaustion.
• Measure your personal worth through success and work achievements. @professional() And you? Do you think you can improve your relationship with work?