William Glasser’s “Positive Addiction” asserts that certain behaviors are good to overwork. But then, haven’t we all heard that “over” or excess of anything is bad?
Addiction, be it in any form, is probably the most dominant force in a person’s life. It’s not much different from obsession; there’s compulsion attached to both. In today’s fast-paced world, one common addiction that afflicts most people is workaholism.
There are work addicts everywhere, and each one has his/her own reason for staying excessively immersed. Some excessively work to transcend, some for extra cash, and some under pressure. But be it anything, at the end of the day, all addicts go through severe emotional damage.
A thorough look at the lifestyle of work addicts reveals four very distinctive personalities – the persistent, the climax binge, the hyperactive, and the ones with the work fetish. Let’s explore each one and try to understand how instead of boosting, it negatively impacts a person’s career growth chart.
Read – Steps to maintaining a good work-life balance
The persistent
Persistent workers’ adrenaline rush is extreme. They tend to hasten their tasks once they’re assigned. Unknowingly, they pressure themselves to be complete perfectionists.
Day or night, they have no boundaries.
All they’re focused on is work. They charge up instantly and complete their current tasks to quickly grab the next work. They’re prone to unorganized sleep schedules, excess stress and complete isolation.
It’s not that difficult to spot the damage markers there.
The climax binge
Some people work better under pressure. Unlike the persistent workers, binge-workers voluntarily set themselves to give their best at the final moment. They easily get distracted and work on several unnecessary things until the last minute. When the deadline nears, they panic and compulsively work to deliver good results.
Through procrastination, this type of workers develops an immense amount of pressure and stress at a particular moment. And often, that proves to be too much to handle.
The hyperactive
Creative minds can’t settle for less. Hyperactive workers keep shifting from one task to another to keep their engagement hyped.
They need thrilling jobs to pursue because they’re easily bored. If their engagement breaks, their work breaks. Even the iconic painter, Leonardo Da Vinci, suffered from ADHD, which resulted in incomplete paintings. These work addicts flex only if they’re hooked on the game. Otherwise, game over!
The ones with the work fetish
Just like oenophiles who savor the taste of wine with every sip, workers with work fetish slowly progress. Their initiation and completion are slow. They keep reworking, editing, and checking up on their work for total perfection.
Their main focus is exquisite quality. If they mess up a single word, they throw themselves to modify everything. While their motto is flawless work, they often end up getting entangled in unnecessary stress.
Read – Tips to Overcome Workaholism
To give a few final words
The emotional wreckage faced by work addicts reflects over their surroundings. Their family bonds are often broken, their peace is disrupted, and more often than not, they lose themselves completely. Hence, it’s always suggested that you don’t let yourself fall under one of those categories of workaholics. Try to create a positive balance between your work and life to keep moving ahead.