Image courtesy of Latina Moms.
When was the last time you called out of work because you were sick? While you may want to be almighty, it is a part of human nature to fall ill every now and then.
However, you see this as inconvenient and disturbing your work routine. In your eyes, taking a sick day just adds more things for you to do to your already long list of to-dos.
Or, you may have anxiety related to fear of having this conversation with your manager or letting the team down during a busy week.
You are most likely a hard worker with ambition and an excellent work ethic. You typically continue to work from home and your “free time” isn’t all that free after all.
While these attributes can definitely be applauded, your desire to succeed leads you down a path of workaholism.
A study describes workaholism as “a chronic pattern of overindulgence in work, long working hours, working more than is demanded by implicit and explicit norms as well as self-absorption in work.”
In other words, you constantly prioritize your job over other aspects of your life and become so absorbed in your career that you lose sight of your health and personal relationships.
If you feel identified by this, it is essential to acknowledge that you are a workaholic and reflect on how this can affect you and your loved ones. While it may be difficult at the beginning, there are certain changes you can make to combat this behavior.
Try out these tips and see how you can start having a healthy work-life balance.
Workaholic? Set Boundaries For Yourself
The importance of setting boundaries in your personal life with family or friends is constantly being discussed.
But have you ever thought about setting boundaries for yourself, within yourself?
If you are struggling with being a workaholic, set limits for yourself. Make it a point to leave work on time. If possible, remove your email from your phone. That way, you do not feel tempted to check your inbox at night or on weekends.
Be More Organized
Sometimes, employees fall into workaholism because they are not good at time management. They may be tasked with large projects, and the stress surrounding this project takes more time than actually completing it.
Organize your workload so you can truly assess all your duties. Visualize your tasks so you can comfortably and efficiently complete special projects.
If you feel you are being given more than you can handle, organizing yourself will also help you approach your manager and explain why you’re struggling and how this affects your work-life balance.
Use Your PTO
Oftentimes, employees become so absorbed in their jobs that they do not take days off. In 2018, 768 million vacation days were left unused by Americans. This is shocking as these are benefits offered by companies that are not taken advantage of.
Use the PTO your company offers you. Take a vacation with your family or simply use these days to stay at home and relax. It is important to rest and recharge now and then, so stress does not overwhelm you.
In the end, it can be difficult to stray from the cycle of workaholism, but it is important to do your part to reap the benefits of a healthy work-life balance.