Having ambitious career goals or a genuine passion for your job are only some of the reasons why people become workaholics.
Other, more nefarious reasons include fear of job loss, a work environment that promotes long hours, or even a lack of fulfillment in personal lives.
Whatever the reason, people who are workaholics unconsciously internalize certain habits we see in almost all of them.
What are they? Let’s find out, shall we?
1) Overworking
If you know a workaholic, or you are one, you know that they blur the lines between work and personal time, often putting in extra hours and sacrificing much-needed breaks.
Contrary to popular belief, this is even more true now that many people work from home. From my own example, I know that I work now more than I ever did when I was working in an office.
I have far fewer distractions, and that means I’m also more productive. That’s why the push to force people back into offices doesn’t make any sense to me.
To managers who are telling people to go back into the office environment, productivity isn’t top of mind. It’s all about them because they only know how to lead by proximity.
In any case, the relentless pursuit of work can and does result in physical and mental exhaustion. If you’re not careful, it happens sooner rather than later too.
2) Constantly checking emails
The incessant need to be connected to work through emails, even during off-hours, results in higher stress.
Workaholics simply can’t disconnect and often feel constant pressure to respond promptly. That’s why I’m a big fan of the French law that bans both bosses and workers from sending emails outside working hours.
Yes, there’s some fine print there, too (pertains to companies with 50+ employees), but still, it’s refreshing to see that mental health is looked after in some places.
Still, constantly checking emails is like OCD for many, many workaholics.
3) Difficulty delegating
Workaholics often feel the need to control every aspect of a project, making it hard for them to delegate tasks to others.
This habit results in increased workload and hinders the development of team collaboration.
Look, I get it. If you want to do it right, do it yourself. But at some point, this becomes detrimental to you, your work or projects, and everyone and everything in between.
The ability to delegate tasks is what separates those who do from those who achieve big things.
If you’re stuck in the “keeping busy” mindset, you’ll always be on a treadmill, and each and every task will be equally important to you.
This makes it that much harder to focus on the big picture or to even see it at all.
4) Poor work-life balance
It comes as no surprise that workaholics can’t allocate time for personal activities and leisure.
The imbalance can lead to increased stress, decreased job satisfaction, and strained relationships.
Staying late or bringing work home on a regular basis easily disrupts the balance between professional and personal life.
Workaholics struggle to detach from work, impacting their ability to unwind and relax at home.
Hobbies and personal interests, therefore, all take a backseat as workaholics prioritize work.
At many points in my life, my work consumed me so much that almost all I was doing was working and sleeping. I even ate food in front of the computer.
All of this means your life becomes a monotonous routine, and your mental well-being is in the gutter.
5) Neglecting personal life
When you’re dedicated to work that much, you naturally start neglecting relationships, family, and personal well-being.
Workaholics often miss important events or quality time with loved ones, impacting their overall happiness and fulfillment.
For those with kids, that means resentment on their side, even though all you’re doing is trying to provide for your family.
At some point, you need to choose what’s more important to you.
6) Ignoring breaks
In a marathon, there are no breaks. You’re running for a very long time, right?
Well, I’m looking at work, not like it’s a marathon but a series of sprints and short races.
Plus, a marathon is very demanding, both physically and mentally. And if you tried to run a marathon every day, you wouldn’t last for long, would you?
Indeed, neglecting breaks often results in burnout because you’re skipping meals or breaks, thinking you can achieve more by continuously working.
However, this approach often backfires, as the lack of rest negatively affects your productivity and well-being.
After working a long time without breaks, how efficient and focused are you really? Also, how is your job satisfaction at that point? Probably not so good, right?
7) Inability to say “no”
Saying yes to every request or additional responsibility can lead to an overwhelming workload.
Workaholics struggle to set boundaries, fearing that saying no might be perceived as a lack of commitment.
And in many cases, that’s true, but only because you’ve conditioned others to think like that about you.
Once you’ve set the bar incredibly high, anything less than that will make people automatically think you’re slacking off or something.
Saying “no” can be challenging, but it’s an important skill. Be direct and polite, show gratitude, and offer a brief and simple explanation for your decline.
8) Obsessing with productivity
Constantly seeking ways to be more productive can become an obsession. That’s why many workaholics adopt countless productivity tools and techniques, often at the expense of enjoying the process or taking breaks to recharge.
For me, it translates into feeling guilty during downtime, making it challenging to relax completely.
I start thinking about the things I “should be doing.” So, instead of watching Netflix, I should be reading a book.
Instead of enjoying the sun on my terrace, I should be working on the script for my next YouTube video, and so on.
Our society is obsessed with productivity right now, and that means app developers, authors, and anyone in between who’s creating content about productivity is making a bank.
To break free from the productivity trap, you need to recognize that productivity is important, but so is family, friends, relaxing, going out, and so on.
Find a balance that allows for both achievement and meaningful downtime.
9) Lack of self-care
Neglecting self-care activities like regular exercise, adequate sleep, and relaxation is a great shortcut to physical and mental exhaustion.
Most workaholics I know, prioritize work at the expense of their overall health. They “don’t have time” for exercising, eating healthy, going to the doctor, measuring their blood pressure, etc.
Until they one day end up in the hospital and have to find time to do all these things and are forced to put work in the backseat.
Unfortunately, after some time, most people simply go back to their old habits until the next hospital visit.
10) Difficulty unwinding
Switching off from work mode proves challenging for workaholics. Even during leisure time, their minds stay preoccupied with work-related thoughts, preventing them from fully enjoying downtime.
I know I’m constantly thinking about my side projects, and that makes it hard to enjoy the present moment.
I have to make a conscious effort to stay present and enjoy the time I have for myself and for my family.
What makes it easier is finding stimulating activities instead of staying at home and watching TV together or something that’s not really engaging for anyone involved.
11) Ignoring signs of burnout
Workaholics often ignore or downplay the signs of burnout, such as fatigue, irritability, and decreased motivation.
Ignoring the physical symptoms of burnout, like headaches, stomach issues, or frequent illness, is common.
People brush off these symptoms as temporary stress instead of signs of a more significant issue.
How to stop being a workaholic?
To stop overworking, you need to see what the reasons for it are. If you have to work long hours, try finding a workplace with a better work-life balance.
If you’re a business owner, hire additional workers or assistants. More importantly, trust your colleagues or team members to take on responsibilities.
Many workaholics simply need to learn how to say “no” to additional work or commitments when their plate is already full.
And those who absolutely love burying themselves in work need to realize that life is passing by, and one day, they might look back on this time and regret working so much.
They need to create a sustainable lifestyle that allows them to enjoy their passion without sacrificing other essential aspects of life.
