Business leaders often prioritize work, but if you are addicted to your work, there can be serious consequences.
Fast Company shares the following warning signs that can help you recognize workaholism.
- Hurry. You may feel compelled to multitask because you believe you are accomplishing more when many things are happening at once. You schedule back-to-back appointments and do not give yourself ample time to get from one to the next, so you constantly are rushing.
- Control. You have trouble delegating authority. You are uncomfortable working in unpredictable situations, so working alone gives you security. When something is out of your hands, you feel a loss of control, so you never ask for help.
- Perfectionism. You judge yourself and others by impossible standards, and there is no room for mistakes. You are difficult to work for and with and experience feelings of failure and anger when things are not perfect.
- Relationship difficulty. You have a pattern of forgetting, ignoring or minimizing the importance of family rituals and celebrations. If you attend an event, you’re glued to your phone and your mind is at the office.
- Work binges. Workaholics impose unrealistic deadlines on themselves and have work binges to complete projects—avoiding sleep, missing meals and working nonstop.
- Restlessness. You feel guilty and useless when you are doing something that does not produce results, such as hanging out with friends. You become irritable because of work withdrawal and view leisure activities as a waste of time.
- Impatience and irritability. You hate to wait because time is precious to you. You are easily annoyed when interrupted, and your impatience results in impulsive decision-making.
- Self-inadequacy. When you are between projects and achievements, you feel lost. Fear of failure is a constant presence, and your feelings of inadequacy worsen when you forget or make a mistake.
- Self-neglect. Self-care is not your priority—the job comes first. You pay little attention to your mental and physical health and ignore signs when they are deteriorating.
