Working hard so you can earn enough money to retire in comfort and be well looked after is undoubtedly an admirable thing to do. However, there is a fine line between working and working too much. Statistics show that the people with the least amount of regrets in their lives are the ones that spent enough time with the people that they love most.
Although there is a lot of enjoyment to be found in devoting your energy to a career you’re passionate about, there’s something more to be said about finding a balance. So where does working end, and workaholism begin? Here are some of the signs that you may be a workaholic.
You’re Never Satisfied With Your Work
If you’re the kind of person that ends your work day and feels like you didn’t do well enough and you’re lacking pride in your results, then this could be a sign of an issue. When you leave your job at the end of the day you should be walking away and going back to your personal life. The constant impression that you’re not doing enough is a clear indication that you have an unhealthy relationship with your job.
You Dream About Work
In a recent study, it was found that workaholics don’t just think about their job when they get home, they dream about them. It’s so all-consuming for them that it creeps its way into their subconscious so that they are even working in their sleep! How’s that for a sign of addiction?
To avoid this, consider listening to a daily meditation before you go to sleep. Close your eyes and focus on anything but work before you fall asleep. Otherwise, if you’re thinking about work before you rest, it’s no surprise why work could make its way into your dreams.
You Never See Your Friends
Have your friends been proposing to hang out with you and you never seem to have time? If you’re sacrificing nurturing your relationships with your friends for the sake of your job, then this could become an issue over time.
Workaholics lose contact with the ones they love most because they made work their priority. Even if you work an intensive job, try to make time to see your friends during your lunch hour, or even for a quick drink or bite to eat following your work day. It can help you unwind, and remind you that there is life away from your job.
Your Family is Sick of Hearing About Your Job
When you get home to eat dinner with your family, is the only thing you talk about your job? Even though your family may be too nice to tell you that they’re tired of hearing about your work, the truth is they’d probably like to talk to you about something else. It’s okay to talk a little bit about your job, but don’t make it the primary subject of discussion every night. It’s not fair to your family or yourself.
