Most of us have known a workaholic: that corporate animal who can't part with his briefcase. From a young age, we're told to aspire, to work hard and to make something of ourselves, climbing the corporate ladder in pursuit of more. Sometimes, a demanding dream job can turn into an obsession that causes other important areas of living a full life to fall by the wayside.
Relationships: You may be a workaholic if you find yourself choosing work obligations over building and maintaining healthy personal relationships with friends, family and significant others. Working through the holidays or canceling a date night for a conference call are easy choices to rationalize on isolated occasions, but can become a slippery slope. Setting firm boundaries between your personal and professional lives can reduce those insidious habits that leave professionals feeling unfulfilled and lonely.
Self-care: Compulsive employees may prioritize work before their relationships, but personal wellness often sits lowest on the totem pole. From booking a massage appointment to seeing a therapist, workaholics tend to avoid the things that are designed to center them. Work-related stress has been shown to increase levels of depression and even substance abuse.
In Forbes, Lolly Daskal writes, "More than most people, workaholics need to learn to turn off their thinking mind. The practice of meditation is a great way to make that happen. Take some time every day and consciously slow down, breathe, relax, rest your mind and feed your heart."
The big picture: A hallmark of workaholism is tunnel vision, and laser focus on the tasks at hand. That is, when workaholics aren't fretting and worrying about the future. A professional who can't peel himself away from his swivel chair or put down their Blackberry might start to lose touch with his passions, gifts and life ambitions.
