“We’re not in this life just to work, we’re in it to live.” ― Cecelia Ahern, The Gift
Some of you may know that July 5 is National Workaholic Day. And some of you may be like me, head down and hyper-focused, plowing through what needs to be done. I will admit that I like it when I am on overdrive. I tend to embrace always having something going on at work, personal professional development, volunteering time, etc.
If and when I take personal time to travel or just have a quick getaway, it generally takes me at least two days to get over the desire to constantly check email or worry about other professional “responsibilities.” Thankfully, my current employer does not require that. In fact, they encourage taking time away. After five years of employment, our consultants are given a month of sabbatical. That sounds amazing and also a bit terrifying!
Dr. Malissa Clark wrote an interesting piece for the American Psychological Association in which she shared the definition of workaholism as “the compulsion or the uncontrollable need to work incessantly” (Clark, 2016). She got this definition from Wayne Oates, who coined the term in 1971. As you might imagine, since the publishing of that definition 51 years ago, there has been considerable debate about what workaholism really is. It has since been referred to as an addiction, a pathology, and a syndrome among many other attempts to define it.
Dr. Clark’s research was able to find that there were some commonalities amongst workaholics. First, they felt compelled by personal pressures that were internal to them. Second, these workaholics have almost incessant thoughts about work when they aren’t “at work.” Third, these professionals have often engaged in work activities above and beyond what would be reasonable despite the potential negative consequences, be it personal, physical, or otherwise.
The research by Dr. Clark and her team indicated that there was often a positive impression left by workaholics as viewed by others. They might be seen as having “job and life satisfaction and high performance,” and it might be viewed by others “that workaholics may serve as role models for other employees” (Clark, 2016). That seems kind of a dangerous route. Additionally, they found that, “In general, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism and openness are positively related to workaholism, and agreeableness is negatively related to workaholism” (Clark, 2016). Hmmmm.
Some years ago, I attended the funeral of an executive that I liked and respected. Something about this funeral has stuck with me through the years, and I suspect always will. The person that eulogized him was not a childhood friend, it was the CEO of the parent organization. The vast majority of attendees to the service had been either colleagues or employees. In a way, I found that jarring. While I love our company’s leadership, I would hope that I would be eulogized by a family member or lifelong friend.
Admittedly, I have been affected by the unstable nature of our times over the last three to four years. I work hard and try to make myself valuable to my team and company. I overdo it. I have worked remotely for a long time now, and I find that I can walk into my home office at 7 a.m. and turn around when it is 8 p.m. having missed both lunch and dinner. This is not because my leadership asks for it, but because there is something inside that tells me that working more, working harder, and delivering good results quickly and efficiently will make me valuable as an employee, an example for others, and somehow a better person.
Frankly speaking, while this has provided for a modicum of success, there have been sacrifices I have made in the past that I would not make now. I have no control over the global economy, a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, or how inflation might affect varying market conditions. But I can take care of myself and spend more time with my friends and loved ones.
I am a work in progress when it comes to balance in my life. I am doing what I can. It has been said that if you want to know what you care about in life, then look at where your money and your time are spent. I have some budgeting still left to do…maybe you do as well. I will leave you with this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.”
Please learn to know what to do with your time.
Referenced articles
Clark, M. A. (2016, April). Workaholism: It’s not just long hours on the job.
Attracting and securing top talent remains a formidable challenge in the competitive landscape of business growth. This article addresses essential talent acquisition and recruitment strategies that are crucial for modern hiring success. Effective talent acquisition strategies are vital for aligning hires with an organization's vision and culture. Utilizing these strategies involves leveraging technology and diversity for a strategic advantage. Read on for actionable insights and tactics that will empower your…
Over the past few years, Landrum Talent Solutions’ clients have noted growing pressure to balance day-to-day HR management responsibilities with the tasks of finding, vetting, and onboarding new team members. Busy HR professionals often struggle to find the right fit, especially if the role is complicated or high-level. That makes the time-consuming and ever-challenging tasks involved in hiring new HR team members doubly difficult. A Society for Human Resource Management…
Headcount planning is a critical component in achieving business success, yet it presents a challenge in balancing workforce requirements with financial constraints. Headcount planning, the strategic alignment of staff numbers and skills with organizational goals, is essential for operational efficiency and budget management. HR, finance, and business leaders must collaborate to forecast needs and maintain agility. Read on to discover actionable strategies and best practices that will guide you in…
From new technology to complex reporting to ever-changing regulations – keeping pace with today’s HR functions can be overwhelming. However, a few key skills are perennially sought after, and the most effective HR practitioners use them daily. Since HR is the primary connection between a business and its employees, having HR professionals with these crucial skills goes a long way to ensuring smooth operations, happy teams, and overall business success.…
