Work is a positive thing – at our levels of civilization, a lot of work also has, and for the most part, a positive charge. Yet there are people who actually engage in addictive behavior and get caught up in the associated loop. These people already see their self-esteem in their work and can therefore no longer distance themselves from it. They work obsessively and live as perfectionist as possible.
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Social contacts are gradually disappearing and the urge to define oneself through work continues to increase. The spiral is in flux and as with any addiction, the dose must be constantly increased to be satisfied. This can eventually lead to illness. Roughly speaking, it is argued that a fixed weekly working time of more than 50 hours indicates that there is a risk of workaholism.
The cause of workaholism is often a positive core. This is because involved managers and the self-employed are particularly affected. They work so hard and experience great satisfaction. If these are temporary phases and those affected find a corresponding balance, this is not only normal, but also has many positive sides.
The root cause of workaholism is when this high level of involvement is closely related to the personal value system of self-esteem is linked. It mainly concerns people who link their own value to work performance. From this arises Perfectionism, which is considered the cause of workaholism.
Due to the compulsion to do everything perfectly in order to appear valuable as a person to yourself and supposedly others, the ability to separate the essential from the non-essential is lost at work. It is no longer possible to do everything in the ‘normal’ time. As a result, there are extra night shifts to compensate.
• Outside working hours you think more and more about your work.
• You think about where you can ‘get’ or ‘get’ more time for work and sacrifice that time for leisure, hobbies and socializing.
• You develop a high degree of perfectionism and lose the ability to prioritize. Everything at work is important.
• You feel that you are actually working too much and planning well. However, you notice that you actually always spend more time at work than you intended.
• You are a perfectionist and have lost the sense of priorities. Due to lack of time, you push tasks at a higher level in front of you.
• You forget appointments and cannot explain it.
• You are upset because you are experiencing guilt or early signs of depression.
• You will experience physical withdrawal symptoms if you are unable to come to work (Wi-Fi-free zones, illness, family vacations, etc.).
- To play sports…
…and consider yoga and other meditation practices. These exercises are the best remedies for stress and help reduce feelings of stress. Aside from the health benefits, the workout also serves to better manage stress. - Learn to breathe properly
Although we breathe naturally since birth, most of us don’t know how to breathe properly. Many breathe in a superficial way – especially in times of stress or anxiety. Breathing deeply through the abdomen can help you find inner peace. And it helps to keep a cool head in uncomfortable and tense situations. - Bring your colleagues around the table to talk about these difficult times
Taking the time to talk about how individual employees are affected by the many changes and challenges in the workplace can boost morale. It is a mistake to think that people are not afraid and concerned and that the workplace is not affected by it. - Asking for positive, solution-oriented responses
Times are tense and difficult changes in organizations are the rule. That is why honesty, credibility and openness are so important. More than ever, it is critical to instill positivity in the workforce. Ask questions that encourage solutions such as “What’s going well today, what are our strengths, what do we want this company to look like?” - Keep your mind and heart on the case.
People work harder for what they believe in and what they helped create. This is a critical point to consider during a deep workplace transformation. With regard to the potential magnitude of the workplace change, employees should be involved in the development at an early stage. - Learn to recognize your own feelings
Books, groups, family and close friends and coaches can be important resources for becoming more aware of your feelings. It also makes it easier for you to learn to deal with these feelings in order to gain clarity about your behavior. You should pay particular attention to how you address other people. - Set a good example as a leader
What you do or don’t do directly affects what employees find acceptable. Be a compelling example of the importance of work-life balance. Have lunch with others and motivate colleagues to join them. Fun and laughter in the workplace are also encouraged, as these are stress-reducing factors. - Take the time for good news
Focusing on the negative is not good for your health or your mind. And let’s face it, the proportion of positive and uplifting stories in the news is clearly sparse. It is extremely important to isolate yourself as much as possible from all the misery and reconnect with people or do things that are fun. - Keep yourself free from unnecessary things
Concentrate on the core of your work. Now is the time to prioritize with employees and think about which projects require a perfect solution. Not every project can be at the top. Especially in economically difficult times, brainstorming sessions are more important than ever.
Be completely honest with yourself when the first symptoms appear regularly. There is a difference between working on a project almost around the clock for four weeks and experiencing the associated symptoms more or less constantly over a period of several months and/or years.
Start with a binding work plan for yourself
• Notify friends and family and let them explicitly tell you when you are working too much.
• Be very rigid with recreational dates. That means: celebrate football night with your friends and your 5-year-old’s birthday party as dutifully as you do your business appointments.
• Turn off mobile devices at night and create time islands where you can’t work.
work on yourself
• Learn to trust others. This creates the possibility to delegate tasks.
• Most importantly, learn not to base your self-esteem solely on your job.
If you feel that many of the points in this article apply to your life, you should seek the help of a doctor or psychologist.