How to Determine if you are a Workaholic
Do you think you are a workaholic? Most people don't think that they are workaholics, but it could be that you are misplacing that passion for work with workaholism and might not even realize it. There are several simple ways that a person can determine if they are a workaholic or not. If you answer yes to at least one of these questions then you are a workaholic. Just kidding, all jobs have different workloads, but these are some good guidelines.
When the job is done, what are you feeling? Are you feeling happy because the job is done and you can go home to your other interests, or do you feel like starting the next project? While it might feel good to get a jump on the next project, monitor how often you are jumping into the next project. At least give yourself some time to sleep and have some relaxing time.
When you do spend time at home, what are you doing? Are you waiting to go back to work because you are bored, or maybe even doing some work while at home? While it can be beneficial to do work at home, there is no need to send out e-mails at 11pm to the night manager about signs being put up that don't need to be even discussed until the next day.
How much time do you spend at the office during the day? While a typical day might last more than 8 hours these days, how much time are you putting in after the bell sounds to let out class for the day? While it might not be good to stare at the clock and be out right at 5, it isn't good to still be at work at midnight either. People will talk about you and it can actually put more pressure on you to do well since you put so much extra time in.
What is your thought on the job itself? Do you do it because you enjoy it, or because you are a corporate robot? Working too much can lead to burnout, so consider how you feel during the day. Are you constantly tired and cranky, or do you have some energy to get some good work done? If you are burning out, it could be a sign of being an workaholic.
Workaholics might think it is a badge of honor, but it can sometimes be a badge of having no life. Get outside and mow the lawn or at least take a walk to the store and you will feel much better that you were able to spend a few minutes doing something other than just put in work for the company to make more profits.
