Is Being a Workaholic a Good Thing?

Workaholics are generally the high performers at work. While it is hard to decode the psychology of a workaholic, it would be safe to say that they give more weight to their professional lives.

They are the people who are the first to reach office and generally the last to leave. For workaholics, their work is like an addiction which they just don’t seem to get over.

But, we ask the question: is being a workaholic a good thing? In this article, we take a look at certain signs that define a workaholic and try to separate the pros and cons of being a workaholic to find the answer to a very important question. Take a look:

#1. ‘No’ Is Not An Option

If you’re someone who has a hard time saying ‘No’ to his/her boss, then you are a certified workaholic. In fact, you not only are more than willing to take up extra responsibilities, but you’re encouraging of the same. It is quite normal for you to be doing three tasks at the same time. However, you need to remember that by doing so; you tend to get less productive.

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#2. No Vacations

How long has it been that you’ve not taken time off your work and gone to someplace where you can just relax? If it has been more than a year or two since you’ve done that, then it is only imperative that you’re a workaholic. Your work addiction keeps you glued to your seat, and you find it hard and absolutely unnecessary to leave your desk for any possible reason.

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#3. Working On Vacations

What places you in an even higher category of a workaholic is if you’re open to doing office work while vacationing. In this digital age, it has become possible to work from any place. And, that has become a boon for all the workaholics out there. It has become a fashion to check emails while on a vacation as well. So, if you’re someone who leaves a portion of their heart and mind at the workplace no matter what, you are a workaholic.

#4. No Personal Life

Saying that you don’t have a personal life is a mere understatement. Rather, you are someone who devalues personal priorities. If you’re a workaholic, then you tend to get irritated and look down at coworkers who take long leaves to spend time with family. For you, your work is prime, and you often blur the lines between professional and personal.

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#5. No Lunch Hours

For workaholics, there is generally no ‘free time’ per se while at work. They don’t utilize the stipulated lunch hour, where everyone is supposed to take a break from work. Rather, you can see a workaholic dug deep in his files, working through the lunch hours. While you might appreciate their work ethic initially, this habit of workaholics tends to separate them from their coworkers.

#6. No Hobbies

If you ask a workaholic as to what they prefer doing in their rare free time, they won’t have anything substantial to tell you. Generally, they respond by saying things like they like to read or relax. Often times, you might even hear them say that they like to work. Workaholics don’t have a real hobby in their lives. All their while is consumed by thinking only about work, and that doesn’t give them enough opportunity to gain other experiences in life.

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#7. Working While Sick

Workaholics feel completely out of place when they don’t go to the office. As a result, it is hard for them to take a leave even when their body doesn’t allow them to work. They report to work with a headache or a running nose, but all that doesn’t seem to stop them. While it is hard not to recognize the passion they have towards their job, in the long run, it does have negative implications on their health.

Being a covert workaholic is not a bad thing as long as you know that you have a different life and priorities the moment you step out of your office. As long as you know how to manage your work and life, being dedicated towards your work will never haunt you. 

Pros Of Being A Workaholic

#1. Hard Work Beats Talent

This is something that almost all companies want their employees to understand. There is nothing in the world that can’t be achieved by sheer perseverance and dedication. While innate talent sets two individuals apart, hard work acts as the bridge that connects the gap between the two. An employee who is extremely hard working will naturally become so good at his work that he can compete with anyone who boasts of being talented. So, no matter if you’re talented or not, if you’re a workaholic, you’ll have a successful career.

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#2. Workaholics Are Responsible

We all know that responsibility is never given, it has to be taken; and workaholics do just that. Workaholics are people that you can always depend on in the office as they will never let you down in professional matters. They do the things that most other employees don’t want to do. Naturally, they are the major reasons behind the results and the overall performance of any company. Workaholics become valuable assets to their companies and assume the top posts quickly.

#3. They’re Always Available

Like we discussed above, workaholics are willing to work at any point in time. Be it their official leave day, or a vacation, you can always call up a workaholic to talk work related stuff. As a result, bosses, and superiors see workaholics as people who are highly dependable. When you’re in the good books of all your bosses, it is not hard to imagine the success that you can garner at work.

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#4. They’re Relentless

For workaholics, there is only one measure of success, and that is performance. They make sure that they accomplish goals that are set for them as quickly as possible. They generally don’t leave their desks until they feel that they have achieved what was expected of them. In fact, workaholics are behind all the innovations in a company as their relentlessness often reaps fruitful rewards both for them and their company.

#5. They Have Successful Careers

Given the long list of pros that there are of being a workaholic, it is safe to say that they have wonderful and successful professional careers. They generally take up the top posts in any company, and it is only a matter of time for them to receive the respect that they deserve for their hard work. Their passion towards their work is outwardly, and their coworkers are often envious of their quick ascension to the top.

(Image Courtesy: Jobspire Blog) 

However, as they say, that every coin has two sides, being a workaholic has some major cons of its own. In fact, one look at the list above and you can say that all the benefits of being a workaholic are only restricted to the professional domain. There is no gain that one can get in their personal lives by being a workaholic.

Cons Of Being A Workaholic

#1. Poor Health

Like we discussed above, workaholics report to work even when they are sick. In the long run, this has tragic effects on their personal health, and they don’t keep well. They eventually burn themselves out, and while their careers are successful, they don't last long.

#2. No Creativity

We can all agree to the fact that offices are mundane and the work that is done there is nowhere close to being creative. Unless you work for a creative company, being a workaholic can seriously mar your creative side. Workaholics tend to get caught in the office life, and it is hard for them to explore other opportunities elsewhere. You will never hear a workaholic asking you to come to a movie or try out a new thing. All you can expect from them is boring work-related stuff.

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#3. No Personal Life

An appalling consequence of a workaholic attitude can be seen in personal lives of workaholics. They don’t have meaningful relationships outside the office as those relationships are seldom their priority. Workaholics are high performers at work, but they seem out of place when it comes to having friends. Romance is a thing out of question for workaholics as they feel that love can deviate them from their professional goals. For a workaholic, there is no distinction between home and office.

#4. Burning Out

As human beings, there is only so much energy in your body. If you aim to use more energy than is available to you, then it is only a matter of time before you completely burn yourself out. Workaholics generally, have a great start to their professional lives, where they are the highest performers at work, but over the years, they burn themselves out and start underperforming.

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#5. Bad Coworker

Being a workaholic also has a negative impact in their professional sphere. Workaholics are generally seen as terrible coworkers as they find it hard to share responsibilities with colleagues. Workaholics tend to act like a lone soldier when there is an entire army that can share the burden. Naturally, coworkers feel that a workaholic is not a good person to work with because, with someone like that around, there is simply a lot less that people can do. In turn, it brings down the overall productivity.

So, there you have it. As you can clearly see, there are both pros and cons of being a workaholic. But, is being a workaholic a good thing? Well, we would like to take sides and say that the cons do outweigh the pros. You can have a successful career without being a workaholic. But, you can never have a peaceful personal life if you’re a workaholic. What are your views on this? Let us know in the comments below.

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