What is your personal definition of a workaholic?
Asked by
drClaw (
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April 6th, 2009
I have always known myself to be a workaholic and have never once thought it to be a bad thing, in fact I credit many of my accomplishments to being a workaholic. I do get burned out sometimes, but it has never gotten in the way of my life in the office or at home.
Are you a workaholic? How do you qualify your self as such? Is it even really that bad to be a workaholic? Is there such a thing as a functioning workaholic? Give me your take on the subject of being a workaholic.
I found these tests in case you want to find out if you are “considered a workaholic”: Workaholics Anonymous & Forbes Workaholic Test.
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8 Answers
I don’t think being a workaholic is a bad thing as long as you balance it out with leisure time. I think I am somewhat of a workaholic sometimes I would prefer going to work than hanging out with my friends and having fun. I don’t know exactly why maybe it’s the money I am earning haha.
* gets their primary sense of self worth from job titles, work tasks and coworkers
* gets more satisfaction from on the job achievements than personal ones
* “friends” are co workers rather than non co workers
@VzzBzz Regarding your second point: Can’t on the job achievements and personal achievements be one in the same?
@drClaw: Sure, I used to work for myself and my entire sense of self was wrapped up in what I was doing for work.
I define a workaholic as someone who puts their job and work priorities above all other things in their life. You’re a workaholic if . . .
1. You miss important events in the lives of loved ones or family, because of work.
2. You may go on vacation, but you stay plugged into the office by cell, email, etc.
3. If you suddenly found yourself off work, you would have no idea what to do with your time, because you have no hobbies or community work or interests.
4. You define yourself and others and establish your worth or their worth as a person by your (or their) work or job title.
I do think it is a bad thing. I think it shows skewed values. No one has ever come to the end of their life and said “I should have spent more time at work!” They have, on the other hand, often been known to regret missed opportunites with family and time lost with loved ones.
Spends an excessive amount of time at work, or thinking about work, to the detriment of their private lives.
My ex-, an Important Man in secondary independent education, thought that doing his taxes on week-ends instead of hanging out with me, was really fun.
Someone who doesn’t have a balanced life. They are monomaniacal, and only think of one thing, only know one thing. To me, that’s a pretty boring life. I don’t understand how anyone could remain interested in one thing all the time. I’ve got to have multiple interests, or I’ll kill myself (metaphorically).
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