In a society where excessive work is sometimes regarded as a commendable quality, it is simple to succumb to the hustle mentality. However, let’s be honest for a second; working tirelessly at the office isn’t always as rewarding as it seems.
You’ve probably come across those quotes that exalt hard work, right? Like the one from the football legend who said success only shows up after you’ve put in the work, or that success comes before work only in the dictionary. They’re motivating, sure, but when we take them to heart too intensely, it can backfire big time. Burnout doesn’t discriminate; it can ruin not just your career but also your most precious relationships.
It’s clear that in our society, working yourself to the bone often gets a nod of approval, while those who prioritise rest or balance are sometimes looked down upon.
Recognizing workaholism’s red flags and resisting the downward spiral
This problem is directly tackled by Dr Malissa Clark in her book Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business—and How to Fix It. She directs the Healthy Work Lab at the University of George and is an associate professor of industrial and organisational psychology. Among the top experts on workaholism, excessive workloads, burnout, and worker welfare in the world is Dr Clark.
One may wonder what the telltale symptoms of workaholism are and how individuals might stop themselves from going downhill.
According to Clark, individuals who tend to be workaholics frequently possess a few characteristics that they have had all of their lives. Perfectionism is one of those characteristics—nothing ever seems good enough to them. Overcommitment is another; they usually take on too much without realising their limitations.
She claims that “workaholics also struggle with idleness.” They have the impression that they ought to be working on something or doing something at all times. The workaholic will always find something new to pile onto their plate.
Then there’s the appeal of the hustle culture of today.
Many of us were raised in an environment where hustle culture was deeply embedded. It is instilled in us that all goals are achievable with sufficient effort. Social media influencers of today promote #hustleculture and #riseandgrind, and the younger generation looks up to these people as role models. The younger generation might find it increasingly difficult to put down their work as technology ties us to our jobs more than ever, which could make the issue worse.
Understanding the difference between external demands and internal drive in workaholism
Numerous outside factors can contribute to someone working long hours or taking on multiple jobs. Often, it has to do with money; their family needs that revenue to survive. Perhaps the hectic season (like tax season) or a demanding supervisor is to blame.
In contrast, workaholism is motivated by internal needs. When we’re not working, we get that pit in our stomach that makes us feel as though we “should” or “ought to” be working all the time. Our inability to be in the present is caused by our incessant thoughts about our work and our guilt or uneasiness when we are not working, which can only be reduced by going back to our work. Undoubtedly, workaholism includes long hours, but that doesn’t explain everything.
Does technology have a say?
According to Dr Clark, people’s infatuation with being so busy that they endanger their relationships, their health, and—ironically—their actual effectiveness is partly due to technology.
She claims that technology “tethers us to our work in very unhealthy ways.” It’s much too easy to pick up our phones and send a quick text or respond to a fast email when work is always at our fingertips. Being constantly engaged in our work prevents us from being able to psychologically step back from it, which is a crucial recovery technique that our bodies require to restore the energy we used that day and put us back into balance.
The irony is that technology should be advantageous as it allows us greater freedom in terms of where, when, and how we work, she observes. “In what has been called the autonomy paradox, we actually are more likely to work because it follows us everywhere, rather than giving us more flexibility and control,” the author claims.
People prefer to believe that technology makes them more efficient and productive, and in many respects, Clark says, this is true. She points out that statistical analyses that our software of today can complete in seconds used to take researchers days. “Many of our work tasks will take less time to complete thanks to AI,” she predicts. “The issue is that we just add more tasks to our work days rather than using the increased productivity and efficiency we receive from technology to shorten them.”
The after-effects of the pandemic and workaholism
Many of the unhealthy work practices that surfaced during the pandemic crisis have since become the norm. Thus, how can individuals return to productive work habits without jeopardising their perceived value and professional reputations?
According to Clark, “We got used to communicating with our coworkers at all times of the day during the pandemic”. Back then, this was frequently caused by external factors that compelled the shift in work schedules (parents, for example, who had to work longer hours in the evenings to make up for the time they had to spend caring for their children who were learning online).
The pandemic has, however, intensified a phenomenon known as the “cycle of responsiveness,” in which we grow accustomed to receiving a response to a work email right away, leading us to expect the same from our colleagues and feel under pressure to reply promptly as well.
She claims that if people get used to this greater accessibility, it gets harder to regress out of fear of falling behind.
So how can folks ratchet back?
Breaking the cycle: Time for a reality check
I understand that it can be difficult to overcome a workaholic mindset. However, believe me when I say it’s worthwhile. Establish limits on your working hours, treat self-care as a top priority (because, let’s be honest, it kind of is), and make time for the people and activities that make you happy. And by the way, don’t be scared to ask for assistance if you’re having trouble ending the cycle on your own. It’s okay to seek assistance when you need it.
Redefining achievement: A hint, it’s not just about work
The problem is that our understanding of what success actually entails has been misled. Earning large amounts of money and moving up the corporate ladder aren’t the only goals. Achieving balance and contentment in all aspects of your life, including relationships, health, hobbies, and so on, is the key to true success. Let’s start redefining success according to our own standards and throw out the hustle culture.
Although having workaholic tendencies may appear like a badge of honour, in reality, it’s a surefire path to burnout and sorrow. So, let’s change the narrative and begin putting our well-being ahead of our tendency toward workaholism. I promise that you will appreciate it in the future.
(Tashia Bernardus)