Top 5 Signs Of A Workaholic: Do You Have These Workaholic Symptoms?

Ask Yourself, “Am I a Workaholic?”

We often wear workaholism as a badge of honor in our culture. People who put in long hours, including evenings and weekends, are often seen as smart, ambitious and entrepreneurial.

But a workaholic lifestyle has its downsides. Workaholics tend to take on more work than they can effectively handle and are more disorganized than people who can disconnect from work. Being committed to your job is a good quality, but there is a difference between having a strong work ethic and being a workaholic.

Here’s how to tell if you’ve crossed that line with these telltale signs of a workaholic:

1. You’re a millennial
2. You have trouble delegating work
3. You can’t turn off
4. Your life is neglected
5. You don’t feel well
   
   

You're Part of the Millennial Workforce

Members of the generation with a reputation for slacking off and not wanting to pay their dues are actually more likely to be workaholics than other generations.

A 2016 study by Project: Time Off found that 43 percent of people who identified themselves as “work martyrs” were Millennials, compared to just 29 percent of overall survey respondents. They were also more likely to forfeit unused vacation days than Gen Xers and Boomers.

What Causes Workaholism in Millennials?

In an interview with Harvard Business Review, a Senior Project Director for Project: Time Off theorized that cell phones and the internet are two of the reasons Millennials tend to be workaholics. This is the first generation that entered the workforce with both of those technologies available, and as such, the Millennial hiring process looks different than other generations.

Delegating Work is Difficult for You

Workaholics tend to be terrible at delegation because they believe that nobody can do a job as well as they can. When they must hand off work to others, they micromanage.

If you believe that you are the only one capable of getting work done, recognize that this is a trust issue. Many of your team members are likely just as capable.

Some very valuable advice for workaholics is to start by delegating small tasks that can free you to focus on bigger projects and take a hands-off approach. Don’t concern yourself with how things get done, just that they get done. Once you can see your team efficiently handling the work, you can start trending toward delegating more important projects.

As a Workaholic, You Just Can't Seem to Turn Off

You bring your laptop on vacation. You’re checking email on your phone while having dinner with your family. Even when you’re away from the office, your thoughts are constantly on work. When thoughts of work take over every aspect of your life, your relationships with family and friends suffer and you never get the rest and recharge you need.

Take steps to limit the intrusion of work into your personal life. Don’t bring work home with you and put your phone on Do Not Disturb during family time. Resist the temptation to hop on your computer after hours to just do “one little thing. ” Before you know it, five minutes turns into the entire evening.

Your Life is Being Neglected

Your life is out of balance if your work comes at the expense of family, friends or physical health. If others have told you that you need to cut down on work, listen to them.

Well-rounded people cultivate relationships outside of work and strong relationships are critical to having a long, healthy, and happy life. People without strong personal relationships often suffer from depression and premature death.

Pay attention when the important people in your life complain that they never see you anymore. Make more of an effort to say “Yes” to those invitations you’re always turning down. Make room in your life for the people, hobbies, and physical activities that you enjoy.

Feeling Run Down? That's a Top Workaholic Symptom to be Aware of!

Workaholism, like any addiction, can have serious health consequences. According to WebMD, workaholics experience “significantly higher work-related stress and job burnout rates, anger, depression, anxiety and psychosomatic symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches.”

How to Stop Being a Workaholic

If your commitment to work is leaving you physically and emotionally wrecked, trying to go cold-turkey on your work addiction may be tough. You don’t need to quit your job. You do, however, need to take steps to find balance in your life. Focus on the important things in life that you can only find once you move away from the keyboard.

Should You Attend a Workaholic Anonymous Meeting?

For those who feel like they may benefit from extra support to stop compulsively working, an excellent option is to attend workaholic anonymous meetings. These support groups are offered both in person and online and can be an excellent resource.