Work to Live or Live to Work?
27 May 2008
Read by 2332 persons
This year, Julien took two weeks of vacation, his first in three years. Sophie, his wife, convinced him to go camping for a few days. All was well, until she realized he had brought along, with the cooking pot and stove, a rather bulky gadget: his Blackberry. As soon as they returned home, he announced that he was canceling his second week of vacation. The reason? They can't do without him at the office...
Julien suffers from an increasingly well-known ailment: he's a workaholic. Unable to fill his free time, vacation seems like wasted time to him. He is so preoccupied with his work that he neglects all other aspects of his life. In fact, his job has become his reason for living. He doesn't know the work/life balance! In the past, Julien would have been called a "workhorse", with a hint of admiration for his determination to succeed. But today, while hard workers are respected because they know how to stop once the work is done, workaholics are less so. It's because we've realized that they are literally addicted to their work. Whether it's called workaholism or ergomania, the phenomenon has a less positive image.
This obsession with work can be caused by an excessive desire for success, a need for control, or an escape from personal problems. But the ever-more-demanding world of work bears a heavy responsibility: more difficult-to-achieve goals, greater emphasis on success, and increasing workloads. Predisposed individuals can therefore easily become workaholics. As a result, the love of work turns into obsession...
In the long run, ergomania can have harmful effects on health. If the workaholic doesn't know how to spot the warning signs of overwork, he risks suffering from burnout, stress, and other health problems in the more or less long term. Indeed, since he works relentlessly, he sacrifices his sleep, skips meals, and doesn't exercise. Obviously, his work – ironically – will eventually suffer.
His "workaholism" is also bound to have negative repercussions on his loved ones. Most of the time, he doesn't have time for them and, when he's there, even if he thinks otherwise, he doesn't give them quality time. In other words, emotionally, he's not there. The spouse and children of such a person suffer from loneliness and do not feel supported. Obviously, divorce can follow...
And what about the work that is his justification? Well, it suffers too! The workaholic is not a team player, he doesn't know how to delegate, he wants to do everything himself. Too demanding, he often puts enormous pressure on his subordinates or colleagues. He may even feel contempt for those who don't work as hard as he does. He can thus create a stressful atmosphere in his environment.
What can be done to remedy workaholism? There are several simple tips: make sure to exercise regularly, eat meals at fixed times, engage in hobbies such as gardening, cooking, etc. But above all, to do this, you must learn to stop! Weekends and vacations should be sacred and above all dedicated to family and friends. In addition, at work, you need to set reasonable deadlines and, if necessary, discuss them with your supervisor. It's time to think about it, on your return from vacation, to avoid falling back into old habits.
Aiming to love your work, it's not to become its slave!
Published September 8, 2007
Posted online May 20, 2008
orhri.org
Julien suffers from an increasingly well-known ailment: he's a workaholic. Unable to fill his free time, vacation seems like wasted time to him. He is so preoccupied with his work that he neglects all other aspects of his life. In fact, his job has become his reason for living. He doesn't know the work/life balance! In the past, Julien would have been called a "workhorse", with a hint of admiration for his determination to succeed. But today, while hard workers are respected because they know how to stop once the work is done, workaholics are less so. It's because we've realized that they are literally addicted to their work. Whether it's called workaholism or ergomania, the phenomenon has a less positive image.
This obsession with work can be caused by an excessive desire for success, a need for control, or an escape from personal problems. But the ever-more-demanding world of work bears a heavy responsibility: more difficult-to-achieve goals, greater emphasis on success, and increasing workloads. Predisposed individuals can therefore easily become workaholics. As a result, the love of work turns into obsession...
In the long run, ergomania can have harmful effects on health. If the workaholic doesn't know how to spot the warning signs of overwork, he risks suffering from burnout, stress, and other health problems in the more or less long term. Indeed, since he works relentlessly, he sacrifices his sleep, skips meals, and doesn't exercise. Obviously, his work – ironically – will eventually suffer.
His "workaholism" is also bound to have negative repercussions on his loved ones. Most of the time, he doesn't have time for them and, when he's there, even if he thinks otherwise, he doesn't give them quality time. In other words, emotionally, he's not there. The spouse and children of such a person suffer from loneliness and do not feel supported. Obviously, divorce can follow...
And what about the work that is his justification? Well, it suffers too! The workaholic is not a team player, he doesn't know how to delegate, he wants to do everything himself. Too demanding, he often puts enormous pressure on his subordinates or colleagues. He may even feel contempt for those who don't work as hard as he does. He can thus create a stressful atmosphere in his environment.
What can be done to remedy workaholism? There are several simple tips: make sure to exercise regularly, eat meals at fixed times, engage in hobbies such as gardening, cooking, etc. But above all, to do this, you must learn to stop! Weekends and vacations should be sacred and above all dedicated to family and friends. In addition, at work, you need to set reasonable deadlines and, if necessary, discuss them with your supervisor. It's time to think about it, on your return from vacation, to avoid falling back into old habits.
Aiming to love your work, it's not to become its slave!
Published September 8, 2007
Posted online May 20, 2008
orhri.org
