Workaholics and Workaholism

Do not confuse hard work with workaholism.

People who work hard know the boundaries between their work lives and their personal lives, workaholics do not. Hard workers can function normally when not at work; workaholics cannot. Hard work is healthy, workaholism is not.

What makes workaholism such a tough addiction?

First, the addiction to work can be an addiction to adrenaline. Not an easy thing to eliminate or replace. Second, unlike many other addictions, workaholics typically still need to work. It is as if an alcoholic worked in a bar.

Workaholics and Retirement:

"The results suggest that certain more educated and higher-income respondents simply cannot help themselves," Slemrod said. "They express an expectation of retirement, but when the time comes, they are less likely to be retired."

What about work pressures?

These can be very real. With lay-offs and consolidations, many workers fear the consequences if they don't put in the (extra) time. One report stated that as many as "40 percent of workers don't even bother to take vacations, partly because of fears they may not have a job to come back to if they do."

Are some people "pre-wired" to be workaholics?

Researchers believe that workaholics acquire their addiction early in their careers. But do the brains of some individuals predestine them for workaholism? While research is very early, at least one study on primates scientists "turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning." It's just possible that some people chemistry puts them in a position that they might be more likely to develop the condition than others. But make no mistake, workaholism is unhealthy, unnatural and treatable.

Are there any books on workaholism?

Yes. Several. Click on the Amazon link below to see "Chained to the Desk" as well as other books that deal with the addiction to work.

Finally, on a lighter note, here are a few workaholic cartoons and, believe it or not, dating tips for workaholics.