Being truly dedicated to your work is a plus no matter what your position may be. For some, however, dedication can become addiction.
It’s a fact of life that high earners work more than 50 hours a week. They are defined as people age 25 to 34 who earn $75,000 a year, or people age 35 and older with higher earnings.
Some workers at various levels work 60 hours a week. They’re on cellphones 24/7, no longer enjoy social activities, are the last to leave the office, and their families are left out of their lives.
The situation has generated support groups in cities such as Minneapolis and Denver. Work addicts share stories about how their addiction has damaged their health, destroyed relationships, and hurt spouses and children.
There have always been workaholics, but technology has vastly increased their numbers. They will even work from the shower or bath. They always focus on the next goal and worry they will fail if they don’t keep it up.
About 10 percent are working 80 hours a week, according to a study reported in the Harvard Business Review. Workaholics don’t get enough sleep, rarely exercise, tend to overeat, and may drink too much alcohol.
To curb the constant activity, these people must acknowledge the problem and realize they are a victim of their work, rather than the master of it.
They should establish specific times and days when they will not work.
It helps to have a co-worker force them to leave work at a certain time.