When Malissa Clark was deep into labor with her first baby, after spending many hours having contractions, she eventually shut down her laptop, ceased work, and made her way to the hospital.
The next morning following the birth of her child, she switched on her laptop and carried on with her work.
"Clearly, my priorities were quite out of whack at that time," says Dr. Clark, an associate professor of industrial-organizational psychology at the University of Georgia, to .
Dr Clark describes herself at that time as a workaholic.
"Workaholism can genuinely impact not only your own well-being but also, quite literally, the well-being of those you care for," she states.
Workaholism or work addiction isn’t categorized as a psychiatric disorder according to the globally recognizedDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). However, there are parallels to other forms of addiction.
Dr. Clark refers to Workaholics Anonymous (WA), which is structured similarly to Alcoholics Anonymous.
"The thought processes and behavioral patterns closely resemble those faced by workaholics," she explains.
WA was founded in 1983 in New York and provides services globally, offering a twelve-step program designed to assist individuals struggling with overwork.
A new research suggests that work addiction impacts one in five workers And research from Australia revealed workplace culture played the biggest role in contributing to work addiction.
What actions can we take regarding our culture of excessive work? And how does recuperation appear?
What constitutes work addiction?
About a year after having her baby, Dr. Clark came across some research while reading that helped her realize she was a workaholic.
The actual beginning of my meta-analysis on workaholism started here; as soon as I delved into the literature, I recognized that I was studying myself.
Many individuals associate long working hours with being a workaholic; however, it’s more complex than that, according to Dr. Clark, who authored "Never Not Working: Why theAlways-On Culture Is Detrimental to Businesses and How to Address It."
I prefer to see it as an urge to work tirelessly that pushes individuals to overextend themselves professionally.
Despite outside influences, people might feel a constant "internal urge to be productive."
When people exhibit these workaholic traits, they tend to view every task as a crisis.
Dr. Clark refers to this behavior as " frantic multitasking."
She points out that there’s significant emphasis on tackling immediate tasks and meeting deadlines, yet little attention goes into long-term strategy due to being preoccupied with pressing issues at hand.
This might also affect those surrounding you.
If you’re burdening your team with too many commitments and perhaps making hasty delivery assurances to clients… unfortunately, this often leads to employees having to work through the night at the office just to complete their tasks because of those unfeasible promises.
There are many concerns when dealing with individuals who possess such workaholic traits, particularly if they lead others.
However, what sets apart a diligent worker from someone who is obsessed with work?
People who work excessively find it difficult to cease working, regardless of whether they have a heavy workload or aren’t being prompted by their manager to do more...I believe this is one of the main distinctions.
Dedicating effort is essential, yet we ought not to constantly be in overdrive mode.
'Overwork is applauded'
Twenty years ago, Hazel, a native of New Zealand with experience in the medical field, turned to Workaholics Anonymous for assistance.
I chose not to share this with my colleagues at work since the field I was in seemed filled with many workaholics and an obsession with overworking.
Actually, being overworked is seen as something positive, but folks aren’t aware of how harmful and unpleasant it truly can be.
To tackle her work from new angles, Hazel embraced several different tools.
"Under-scheduling serves as an effective strategy… since I found myself overbooked from head to toe with absolutely no spare moments…. Thus, leaving gaps between tasks ensures you’re not constantly rushing around," she explains.
Hazel set limits on the number of hours per week she planned to work.
She likewise modified her behaviors beyond her job.
"Nutrition, mindfulness, and creativity, along with spending time in nature and fostering connections with others. She emphasizes prioritizing human relationships over professional commitments," she explains.
Addicted to being busy
Anne Maria*, a former social worker, has been a dedicated member of Workaholics Anonymous for many years.
She mentions that she couldn’t help but stay busy and be active, even when she was at home.
Anne Maria wasn’t just hooked on her job; she was equally obsessed with staying active through exercise.
In the morning, I had one task, followed by another in the afternoon. Post-work hours, I’d head to the gym, the pool, or perhaps engage in some other activity. Evenings were equally busy for me too.
Whenever Anne Maria went to bed, she found it difficult to fall asleep.
"I'd fall asleep, I'd kind of go unconscious virtually because I was so tired. And then I'd wake up in the wee hours of the morning, and my mind would be just racing, processing the day, because I'd been so busy all day, I hadn't given myself a time to process what was happening in my day," she says.
What is the appearance of recovery?
Audrey McGibbon is an occupational and coaching psychologist with expertise in executive well-being.
Ms McGibbon suggests that if work addiction were regarded as a type of addiction, the most effective approach for treatment would involve complete abstention.
Clearly, though, this isn't a feasible answer.
"We should instead encircle clients with scaffolding and assist them in regulating themselves before establishing the necessary support systems," she explains.
Ms McGibbon suggests that this typically includes incorporating an additional element to concentrate on.
It becomes much simpler to mentally distance yourself from something you heavily rely on when another thing captures your complete attention.
However, naturally, for someone who is truly obsessed with their work, they may have become quite one-dimensional... so you could attempt to revive an old pastime.
At first, Dr. Clark attempted to use mindfulness as a method to recover from her work addiction, yet she discovered greater effectiveness with what is known as "mastery experience."
Mastery experiences involve tasks that challenge your mind, requiring deep thought and concentration, though they aren’t related to your job.
She recommends acquiring a new skill such as mastering a different language or an musical instrument; something that demands cognitive effort yet isn’t considered part of one’s job responsibilities.
It truly focuses on the same zones for relaxation and recuperation.
Anne Maria mentions that shortly after receiving assistance, she experienced an epiphany that transformed both her professional and personal routines.
I was fleeing from myself ... I was escaping myself because I didn't wish to experience any emotions.
Nowadays, many years later, Anne Marie has eased up, and she mentions she can now "spend time with herself."
At present, I simply take the dog for a quiet walk, stopping whenever she needs to relieve herself. In the past, with another dog, I would pull it along without allowing it to stop and smell or urinate.
That’s what recovery means to me.
*Names have been changed
