Working With Workaholics (or being one, or living with one)

The Situation

You may be a workaholic, live with a workaholic, or have a workaholic boss.  America is full of workaholics.  Many years ago, when we were mainly farmers, our country was founded on hard work.  A persons character was largely judged by how hard they worked.  Hard work was a family activity and was good for our health.  Its a value that we have clung to.  Its a value that does have a down side.

The Problem

The American Institute of Stress claims that 75 - 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems.  We have a bunch of stress related diseases now that did not exist a few decades ago.  The number one cause of stress is work related stress. 

Marriages are struggling.  How often have you heard that one or both spouses is consumed in work and does not relate to the family any more.  Working extra hard is not building strong families the way it used to.

A lot of our modern day work is not healthy, does not build families, and is stressful.  Its about time to re-think the value of hard work.  Few people die wishing they had worked harder.

The Solution

Businesses love our hard work.  Businesses love workers who work overtime since it saves money versus hiring more people which need benefits, space, and training.  America has the most productive workers in the world.  Profits have been great until the recent recession.  They will expect more work from the currently reduced workforce.  Hint:  Businesses will not try to solve the problem. 

It is the type A workaholics which tend to run businesses.  They don't need very much sleep and put in the extra hours to become leaders.  Those that are not type A personalities have to please the Type A leaders so others become workaholics too.  We are competing with workaholics for raises.  Hint: Your boss will probably not understand the problem.

Conclusion: You have to protect yourself.  Of course, you already knew this.

Dealing with Workaholics

Here a few tips in dealing with workaholic drunks.  I have been one to an extent and I have learned not to be one. 

• Don't be a drunk - learn to value people over tasks
• Don't enable your drunk spouse - encourage valuing people over tasks at home
• Read the book - The Joy of Not Working by Ernie Zelinski
• Make a commitment to working less overtime
• Work harder at work - with focus you can usually get the same work done in less time
• Work on the right things - you can out-perform drunks by working on the right things
• Track your accomplishments - your drunk boss may think you are not working hard enough
• Find a better job - your company or boss may be so drunk that you need to change the situation
• Slow down weekends - drunk people make their entire weekend a task list (if they have a weekend)
• Get a life - Some people become drunks because they have forgotten how to camp, fish, play sports, play instruments, go on vacations, play games, watch sunsets, etc.....