04/ 16/ 2007
If there's one addiction rampant in workplaces today, it's workaholism. You know the symptoms: a constant mad rush to get more and more things done, perfectionism, irritability when things don't go right and a single-minded obsession with work-related issues.
Workaholism can result in problematic relationships at work (and at home). It can impair family life and personal health. It can result in a loss of perspective about what's really important at work and in life. If you've come down with workaholic symptoms, it's time to seek an antidote. For starters, here are a dozen time-tested cures:
- Block time out. In much the same way as you set large blocks of time aside for work tasks, schedule time for your personal life--your family, your friends, your hobbies. Observing these personal blocks of time may be difficult at first, but it will eventually be rewarding. Helpful hint: Schedule a weekly outing with your children, spouse or friends, ideally by arriving home early one evening a week.
- Remove your clock. Workaholics are often intensely focused on the clock. When you're working on critical projects, literally remove the clock from your line of sight. If you need periodic time reminders, set alarms for every 30 minutes. Will this be uncomfortable? Yes. After a while, however, you'll end up feeling more focused and productive. Helpful hint: Try the clock-removal strategy next time you have desk work lasting more than an hour.
- Withdraw slowly. Workaholism is an addiction. As is the case with any addiction, you need to withdraw gently. How? Gradually decreasing the compulsive behavior that characterizes your work life. Helpful hint: Suppose you're spending 60 hours a week on work items and ignoring your family. Set a goal: For each of the next eight months, you'll decrease your working time by two hours a week. In eight months your usual weekly work will be 44 hours.
- Set priorities. The higher a task or project appears on your priority list, the more effort you need to devote to it. Conversely, give yourself permission to set low priorities aside if necessary. Helpful hint: Let's say you have 12 pending projects. Arrange them in order of importance. The top five may deserve--and get--your attention. The lower seven can wait.
- Mind your manners. Workaholics often exhibit signs of impatience and anger when things don't get done right or quickly. Self-monitoring of behavior often triggers a greater awareness of workaholism--and more cooperative relationships at work. Helpful hint: Keep a list of five "anger comments" on your desk. Whenever you feel impatient or upset, glance at the list and stop the disruptive behavior dead in its tracks.
- Savor the process. Workaholics are often content only when they finish things. Tomorrow, spend some time reflecting on the way you do things--the research you do, the people you meet, the tools you use--and enjoy the skills involved in making things happen. Helpful hint: Take two or three minutes toward the start of any task, and enumerate the things you like most about it.
- Look to others. As hard as it may seem at first, pass some important tasks and responsibilities to other people. Resolve in advance, whatever the outcome, to thank them for their efforts. Helpful hint: On a big project, delegate tasks to others. Make it a point to “check in” only at specified infrequent intervals. The upshot: you'll better learn how to avoid the do-it-all syndrome so characteristic of workaholics.
- Say no. You don't have to do everything, however attractive another project or two might seem. Cultivate the art of declining requests that don't fit your true priorities. Helpful hint: Estimate the amount of time needed to complete current and upcoming tasks. Once you're at 110 percent of your available time, it's time to begin saying no to new requests.
- Think of others. A growing body of scientific research suggests that workaholism can harm family life and even the behavior of your children. The well-being of people important to you should be reason enough to chip away at workaholic tendencies. Helpful hint: Keep a family photo gallery near your desk or workspace. When you feel overwork or pressure coming on, glance at the photos and remember your highest priorities in life.
- Reward your mistakes. No, workaholics don't like mistakes. So next time you make one, congratulate yourself--not on the mistake, but on your ability to get beyond it. Helpful hint: Follow this practice of one ex-workaholic: When you make a mistake or error, however small, put a quarter in a nearby jar and smile. Use the funds you accumulate for something enjoyable.
- Solicit feedback. Find a co-worker or friend you trust and ask for her candid analysis of your working behavior. Hopefully she'll help you separate your genuinely hard and productive work from your habitual workaholic behavior. Helpful hint: For the next several months, sit down with this individual once a week. Walk though your pending tasks. Describe how you approach them. Listen for her suggestions and attempt to incorporate them into your daily routine.
- Cultivate new interests. Maybe it's a sport or athletic endeavor, or maybe it's a new hobby. Pick something that's intrigued you for a long time and gently embrace it as a spare-time avocation. Helpful hint: Pick something that you can do during “odd moments” as well as long blocks of time. For instance, golf may be a wonderful spare-time passion, but you can't just pick up and play anytime. But once you find that perfect practice-anytime pastime, you'll take another dent out of workaholism--and add authentic delight to your life.
Hard work, long hours and dedication are all characteristics that make you a successful entrepreneur, but keeping your hard word from crossing the line over to workaholism, you'll have a healthier business and a happier you.
