What is work addiction and how to address it?

Have you ever felt you can’t step away from work, or that your workplace couldn’t manage without you? If so, you might be suffering from work addiction. Work addiction is defined as a compulsive need to work or engage in work. According to a study, up to 24% of Australians may be addicted to work. This rate is higher than that of many other countries.

So what causes work addiction and how can it be addressed?

What causes work addiction?

Having a demanding manager, being in a high-pressure role, or having family members addicted to work can increase your risk of developing work addiction.

Experts say that Australia’s high rates of work addiction are driven by our work culture. They argue our individualistic culture places a strong emphasis on personal achievement.

This leads some people to work longer hours and become obsessed with their jobs in a bid to excel in their roles.

People with work addiction often identify strongly with their occupation, and it forms their sense of self. For many, work is the most important part of who they are.

What are some of the symptoms?

Symptoms of work addiction can include:
• Poor sleep
• Decline in physical and mental health
• Reduced job satisfaction
• Withdrawal from friends and family

How to identify if you have a work addiction

If you think you could have a work addiction, consider asking yourself the following questions:

• Do you think about how you can free up more time to work?
• Do you spend more time working than you intend?
• Does working reduce your feelings of guilt, anxiety, helplessness or depression?
• Have you not listened when others have told you to cut back on working?
• Do you become stressed when prohibited from working?
• Do you deprioritise exercise, hobbies or leisure activities because of your work?
• Do you work so much it has hurt your health?

When answering these questions, rate how often you experience this feeling on a scale between 1 and 5 where 1 means never and 5 means all the time. Those who score 4 or above on at least 4 of the questions could be suffering from a work addiction.

Effects of work addiction

Work addiction can have several negative impacts. These include:

• Exhaustion and burnout
• Cardiovascular problems
• Anxiety and depression
• Reduced social connections & deteriorating relationships with family and friends

How to address work addiction

If you believe you could be suffering from work addiction, there are several things you can do to address the situation. These include:

• Increasing your awareness: The first step to overcoming work addiction is being aware that you are addicted to work.
• Setting boundaries: Try to set boundaries by limiting your involvement with work. For example, not responding to work emails after hours.
• Finding new interests: Consider how you are going to spend the extra time you are currently dedicating to work. For example, consider taking up a new hobby, or pursuing craft, sport or volunteer work.
• Delegating: Where appropriate, try to share your work responsibilities with others.
• Improving time management: Improve your time management by focusing on the tasks that are most important
• Practicing mindfulness: Try to incorporate meditation, deep breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques into your daily routine.
• Seeking professional help: If you feel your work addiction is significantly impacting your quality of life and/or relationships with others, this might be a sign that it’s time to seek professional assistance. Consulting a therapist or counsellor may help you identify the underlying cause of your work addiction and develop strategies to overcome it.

According to experts, being passionate about your work can provide many benefits. However, this should not come at the expense of looking after yourself and your family and having interests outside of your work.

If work addiction has you considering a career change, Public Service Resumes can help. We are pleased to offer various services including our resume and cover letter writing service.