Do you work seven days a week? Sometimes nights, too? Are weekends when you catch up on work, rather than spend time with your family or friends?
If you answered “yes,” then you could be a workaholic – and you’re certainly not alone.
In fact, more and more Americans are becoming workaholics. As one of the leading staffing firms in Dade County, we know this is due to a variety of factors; one obviously being the economic crunch. Managers and workers want to do as much as they can to stay busy and contribute to the company, possibly burning themselves out in the process. The other reason is that with greater accessibility through mobile devices, the workday doesn’t seem to end for some people, even when they go home.
If you are a workaholic, you might think of it as simply pushing yourself in order to get ahead. But in the process, you can actually harm your career, not to mention your family and your personal life.
So what are some other signs of workaholism – and how can you cut back without sending the wrong message to your employer or employees? Here’s a look:
The Signs:
- You can’t stop thinking about work.
- You can’t delegate work; you have to remain in control of every project and task.
- You can’t say “no” to any request, even if your plate is already full.
- You take work with you to bed and on vacation.
- In social situations, you like talking about work the most.
- Your family and friends have given up on spending time with you.
- You get annoyed by people who have priorities other than work.
- You don’t work to live, you live to work. As a result, you don’t have a well-rounded life outside the office.
One or two of these signs doesn’t mean you’re a workaholic; but if you demonstrate three or more, then it’s time for a change.
Here’s How to Do It:
Set aside personal time.
You have no problem scheduling work events; so approach scheduling events in your personal life the same way. Set aside time to spend with your family or do something you enjoy that’s not work-related – and stick to the schedule.
Learn to delegate.
Even though that’s hard for a workaholic to admit it, no one can become successful completely on their own. You actually do need help from others. So start small; ask a co-worker or employee to take on a minor task and see if they can handle it. If you’re pleasantly surprised, then start delegating larger tasks and projects. The key to learning to delegate successfully is taking it in baby steps.
Turn off your cell phone.
Unless it’s an emergency, that text or email you got at 8 pm can wait until after you’ve put the kids to bed. So turn off the phone and take care of your personal commitments before turning it back on.
If part of your workaholism is due to a job that’s too stressful, or a company that is understaffed, give us a call. As one of the leading staffing firms in Dade County, we can give you access to the top jobs – and the top job candidates – in and around Dade County.