You may think that workaholism creates a good impression of you in your boss’s eyes. If you yourself are a manager, then such workaholism can be perceived as a powerful resource for rapid prosperity. But such behavior can lead to serious consequences for both health and business.
For many decades, psychologists have been arguing about what workaholism is and whether this is a bad thing but studies have confirmed that workaholics exhibit the same behaviors that drug addicts or alcoholics.
According to a new study, there is a significant difference between being involved in a job and being dependent on it. In the first case, a person loves work and achieving a positive result but in the latter, the person is motivated by negative emotions, such as guilt and coercion. If you are trying to wean yourself or your subordinates from excessive dependence on work, then these are the things that you should pay attention to:
1. Your Brain Needs a Break
It is good if you have the opportunity to take a vacation during the year, but the rest is also necessary during the working day. Freeing your brain from work for a while is essential for increasing productivity. A recent study found that the ideal work-to-rest ratio should be 52 minutes of continuous work and a 17-minute break. In actual reality, this proportion looks elusive and too humane but to take short breaks after each hour is quite realistic.
2. Lunch at the Workplace Is a Bad Habit
A lunch break is a perfect time to take your mind off work and let your brain relax but this is not the only reason why you should leave your workplace during lunch. Physical activity, in which you resort to get up from your desk and go to the dining room or cafe increases productivity and prevents the accumulation of excess weight.
British scientists conducted a study which found that people who prefer to dine at the workplace are more likely to experience obesity problems. Sociologists present an additional argument according to which a collective lunch with colleagues or clients can be a good way to establish business communication and advance your career.
3. Working Overtime Is Bad for Health
No matter what ambitious goals you are guided by, extended working hours will not make you more productive. This idea is confirmed by a 2016 study, which showed that those who work within the strict framework of the five-day schedule experience less stress and are more effective in performing professional tasks. It has even been observed that a normalized working-day leads to “more natural variable heart rates”.
4. Workaholism Harms Relationships
Excessive passion for work can cause a serious split between partners in a romantic relationship. Signs of workaholism are comparable to other types of addictions since workaholics often shift their priorities in favor of work, sacrificing their friends or family. Someone who devotes too much time to their career places a disproportionate amount of household duties on their partner.
As practice shows, marriages in which one of the spouses is a workaholic is twice as likely to end in divorce. Those who stay together may face serious family problems. Children of workaholics have a higher level of depression and anxiety than children of alcoholics.
5. Workaholism Harms Your Life in General
Workaholism is associated with many serious problems that a person acquires throughout life. It increases the risk of oxycontin addiction, insomnia, heart disease, depression and anxiety, weight gain, high blood pressure, and even premature death.
It is important to maintain a balance between your professional duties and personal life. If hard work is a good quality that can inevitably lead to career success, workaholism is a dependency that will not bring positive results in the long run.
