Why Are You So Busy?

Why are you so preoccupied? Is it true that you have too much work? Is work so important to you that you'd give up anything in your life to get it done? Even if it means jeopardizing your health and relationships? 

If you find these questions upsetting, see how you fare on the following: 

Do you put in more than 50 hours every week? 

Do you have work-related dreams? 

Do you believe that to succeed, you must work most of the time late? 

Are you an outsider in your own house? 

Do you frequently miss family and social gatherings because you are continuously working? 

Do you plan and commit to more than you can do in a 40-hour work week? 

When you're not working, do you get bored? 

Is it common for you to miss family and social activities because you have to work? 

Do you constantly check your phone messages and email when on vacation? 

Your Score

The more yes answers you give, the closer you are to meet tmeetription of a workaholic. If you responded yes to more than half of the questions, it's time to assess your situation before you lose your health, family, and all you cherish. 

Perform a stocktake

First and foremost, examine your career, what you perform, and the significance of your accomplishments. Are you recognized for the hard hours you've put in? Does it really, truly make a difference in your income? Let's be honest. Employees are frequently used as pawns in today's economic world. When a corporation has make cuts, no amount of overtime or sacrifice will make a difference. 

Are you having a good time?

Second, consider whether you enjoy your career, despite the lengthy hours. If you're not having fun and are popping antacids to avoid a stress-related ulcer, you should reconsider all of your efforts. Fun should be a major priority in your life, including your career. 

For example Gary's experience :

 He wanted to expand his social circle but had no time as he was working from 7.30 am to 7.00pm. Most days. He claimed that he had been doing this for years and that it was "the norm" in his field.

When asked why working crazy hours was such a common practice, he realized that the co-workers who thought this were all really unhappy. Most of them, like him, were divorced and had no one to go to. They took advantage of their jobs to avoid loneliness.

Gary was divorced because he neglected his relationships. Most nights, he would return home at 7.30 p.m., and his wife would not bother interacting with him. She was preoccupied with caring for their two young boys and providing their demands. His wife was putting the kids to bed at the time.If they hadn't already slept off, Gary would read them a story. 

Everything that was vital to him was being withheld from him. 

Unfortunately, Gary did not wake up in time and became preoccupied with being 'Mr. Important' at work. He paid a high price for the divorce that followed. 

Raising Children

Stephen Biddulph asserts unequivocally in his book "Raising Boys" that if you habitually work a fifty-five or sixty-hour week, including travel time, you simply will not cut it as a father.

He claims that your sons will face difficulties in life, which will be your responsibility.

The Final Word

If you are serious about making changes in your life, you must act immediately. If it's too difficult to do it alone, hire a coach. If you've been a workaholic, it may take some time to break old habits and install new ones. After all, you have nothing to lose by working less and everything to gain by continuing as you are.