Hola Beauties! Sometimes, we can be very passionate about our jobs and work hard to obtain the results we want, but when do we distinguish between a good work ethic and being addicted to work? Find in this article the signs if you are a workaholic and how to improve this situation.
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This post is about Signs You Are A Workaholic.
1. Signs of Burnout
Studies have shown that people addicted to work present more signs of burnout, but how do you identify this condition?
Burnout can be manifested in different ways: mental, emotional, or physical exhaustion caused by high stress levels. We need to realize that we have these symptoms and act on them. Burnouts can lead to more severe problems like depression or anxiety, affecting work productivity and personal life.
At the same time, burnout can also affect your body, causing muscle pain and susceptibility to colds, the flu, or other viruses.
If you feel overwhelmed and see these signs, talk to somebody and express your concerns, take time off to heal, and look for any help you can get.
Last year, I was promoted to a new senior position, and for a while, I was doing three people’s work by myself. I got to a point where I was so mentally and physically tired that I couldn’t do any other of my selfcare activities like my workouts and my daily routines, and I was so grumpy that I was not feeling like myself anymore.
When I saw how these changes affected me, I raised my hand and asked for help, took some days off to relax, and came back renovated and with a different mentality.
Remember that not everything in life is work; there are many things to enjoy, and it’s essential to have a balance to find happiness.
2. Can’t turn your brain off from work
Here, you need to pay close attention to the following symptoms:
- Worrying about work during your days off
- Saying that you don’t have time for a vacation
- Checking emails in your free time or first thing when you wake up
Not being able to turn your brain off work can bring consequences like sleep deprivation, anxiety, and stress. If you see yourself with this behavior, try to find its cause and look for help.
3. Running away from problems with work
Using work as an excuse to avoid your life problems is another indication of being a workaholic. If you see yourself spending most of your time working and not with your friends or family, this is a sign that something is incorrect, and you need to take action on this situation.
You need to stop for a second and validate why you have that urgency of being constantly working, what you are getting with it, and how you feel by doing this.
Learn to slow down and prioritize what matters in life; work is important but is not everything.
Are you addicted to work?
The Bergen Work Addiction Scale was created by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Cecilie Andreassen and her team at the University of Bergen and focused on 7 questions; answer each one of them with 1. Never 2. Rarely 3. Sometimes 4. Often 5. Always.
If you score 4(Often) or 5(Always) in 4 or more of the questions, that is a suggestion that you might be a workaholic.
Here are the questions:
1. ———- You thought of how you can free up more time to work
2. ———- You spent much more time working than initially intended
3. ———- You worked to reduce feelings of guilt, anxiety, helplessness, and depression
4. ———- You have been told by others to cut down on work without listening to them
5. ———- You become stressed if you are prohibited from working
6. ———- You deprioritized hobbies, leisure activities, and exercise because of work?
7. ———- You worked so much it has negatively influenced your health
Okay Beauties, these are the signs that will help you identify if you are a workaholic. If you find yourself with any of these symptoms, try to find the help you need, and don’t let any of those emotions control your life.
Remember that you are more than your work, and it’s essential to put your energy into what makes you happy and brings you joy in life.
Love you all ❤
Adriana
