10 Tips on How to Avoid Being a Workaholic.

      

The phrase “workaholic” can be used to define people who are dedicated to their professions and enjoy their work. But it refers to the people who observe the need to work or find themselves working, extremely. This is something that we have all found ourselves guilty of and influenced by at some point in our working careers. Work obsession can not only affect one’s health but also relationships too. When it comes to recognizing the signs and fixing the issue it is never easy.

What Are The Symptoms And Why Is It Bad For You?

Although it can be difficult to notice when you are a workaholic yourself, others may be able to locate some of the symptoms in you and help you realize your unhealthy work-life stability. These can involve:
spending most of your life working
compulsive work habits (checking work emails or catching up on work orders outside work hours)
work is your top preference above health, family, and everything else
experience stress when not working
diverting yourself from life difficulties with work
scared of taking time off

All of these symptoms will have serious effects on your health, both physically and mentally. It will start to make you feel more stressed and, as a result, will add strain to others' lives. It can lead to burnout and other mental health struggles such as anxiety and panic. Then it can affect your productivity at work. And importantly, being a workaholic will have a direct impact on relationships in your personal life.

Below we have listed 10 tips on how to avoid being a workaholic and to change the behavior pattern you may have fallen into.

#1 Set your work boundaries

You must set your working hours. For example, if you are supposed to leave work at seven in the evening, it should be so no matter what. It may also involve not checking emails and replying to clients while at home or on the weekends.

Always keep in mind that you work to support yourself, your family, and, more importantly, your professional satisfaction, empowerment, and happiness. So create clear boundaries that will help you move away from the workaholic category.

 
#2 Exercise Mindfulness

Mindfulness is something we have mentioned more often in our blogs. On this day, mindfulness plays a huge part in having positive mental health. Take time in your day to follow breathing techniques, being present in the moment, and noticing stuff around you. Indulge yourself in a bath, lose yourself in a book or do some exercise. These activities will help you slow down and listen to your own body, which in turn will help you to set your priorities.

 
#3 Practice responding “No”

Being a workaholic means that you find it tough to say no when you are asked to perform more tasks and therefore then management continues to give you tasks as they assume you are worthy to do them. Saying no can be scary and annoying that you will lose out on promotions or perks at work. Try saying things instead like “I’m sorry but I left with no time to do right now” or “I can’t help you with this, but I know someone who can”. Saying no sometimes will help to keep your work-life stability in order.

#4 Focus more on your Mental Health

By now, you must know workaholism affects physical and mental health problems. The latter reveals itself because of constant pressure to work, which affects your mind negatively. It further leads to increased stress, anger, anxiety, and despair. Being a workaholic affects your mental and physical response, which essentially decays your body completely.

In addition, you are likely to experience insomnia because your mind is in a perpetual race of planning and practicing. It also hurts your nervous system gradually.

#5 Admit you are a workaholic

If you don’t accept the fact of being a workaholic then things will never change. A problem you admit is a problem you can change. You might not be informed that your work behavior is typical of a workaholic and you may not be aware of how long it has been going on. That is why it is important to know the symptoms and be ready to realize them in yourself. Try to listen to others about you if they express concerns.

#6 Delegate and outsource tasks

Workaholics can find themselves working long hours to complete a task. While they could have delegated that task to someone else. Workaholics often don’t like to delegate or outsource work as they need perfection or to please others. This could be a waste of time, as the energy spent on doing this task could have been spent somewhere more meaningful. Delegate some work to others so you can work on things only you can do best. Outsource work, if the workload is too much.

#7 Understand What Makes Workaholism

Workaholism does not just follow. Various underlying points cause it. If these issues remain unresolved, no effort can stop you from being obsessed with work. However, if you know why and how you work, it helps solve the problem from the root.

Some of these sources include loss, failure, looking insignificant, feeling unneeded, feeling incomplete, and fear of being self. To numb these fears, workaholics devote much time to working. They assume, if they work more hours, they will earn more, enhance their status, while others want to be involved to seem to be doing something wise.

Overworking gives them a chance to stick on, which is counterproductive in the extended run. Such people need to overcome their panics first, and then, it will be easier to free themselves from the boredom of workaholism.

#8 Identify When to Stop

Everyone has a deadline. Yes, a certain threshold that you become destructible if you pass. And for this purpose, you need to learn to be content saying no once you enter your limit. Although you can make some quirks because of certain reasons, it should never become a daily norm.

To help you out, learn management ways on how to plan and prioritize your work.

#9 Write down your values

Take time to think about what adds meaning to your life. This will help you notice the inequality in non-work-related elements of your life that you’ve been trying hard not to emphasize. It could be people, situations, or actions that make you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Identify and write them down.

 
#10 Take time off

Although it looks like a simple tip on how to avoid being a workaholic, taking time off can be a tough job for a workaholic. They see it as a loser or weak to take time off but it will help you to be more productive when you return to work. Taking time off will prevent burnout and other health concerns. It might be using your annual leave for a vacation or time away with your family, or it might be taking time off recommended by a doctor. It is not weak or an option to do this at all, it is needed.

People contribute one-third of their existence working, so it’s easy to become a workaholic in no time if you are not concerned. For this reason, everyone needs to find the right work-life balance. It’s best that everyone gets one. It helps to maintain sanity and allows you an opportunity to concentrate on other crucial factors in life, like sleeping, walking, eating right, and spending time with your close ones. Not overlooking, constant exhaustion and burnout can block your creativity and productivity if you don’t find that equilibrium.

Do comment what all ways this blog added value to your life and don’t forget to share it and follow me on Instagram & Facebook - @relivewithsangeeta & ReLive-Because You Matter