I may be a recovering workaholic.
Have your loved ones, friends or colleagues ever confessed to being workaholics? Perhaps, but I doubt it was viewed as a real addiction; at least, compared to a drug addiction that would warrant an intervention. Yet now that I have faced my demons, I have a completely different perspective on the matter.
We are trained to communicate openly regarding just about everything except our excesses in the workplace. The Japanese are one of few cultures that seem to address the problem of overworking head-on. In Japan, a salaryman, an office warrior, is praised for his achievements but also told to be careful. Working too hard can lead to Karōshi, which in Japanese literally translates to death from overwork.
How do you discuss the topic without getting defensive? How do we know if this is a real problem? Perhaps you are questioning yourself about your work habits while reading this. From personal experience, here are the main areas that have helped me transition into a balanced work style over the past six months, without losing any productivity.
1. Moderate, Don’t Quit
Out of all of the addictions you could potentially have, this may be one you can enjoy with moderation. As a workaholic, chances are you are a top producer at your company. The problem solver, the yes man, the hero in the conference room. Just remember, being proud of your workaholism also means understanding there is a problem. That is the first step in the recovery process.
2. Don’t Isolate Yourself
Talk to your friends, family, and loved ones about all aspects of your job. Understand that it is quite hard for them to understand the day-to-day process and the dedication you have to give to your work, especially if you are a CEO or entrepreneur and the buck stops with you. Communication can help everyone around you understand why you have to stay at the office past nine PM and why sometimes there are last minute deals or negotiations that come up.
3. Enjoy your downtime
Figure out where you can spare an hour or two from work from time to time and dedicate it to a hobby or simply spend that time with friends and family. Do anything but take on a new task at work just to be ahead of schedule.
4. Enjoy your worktime
When there is work to do, put your best effort into it. We all have tough days filled with extra work, and in those you should not have to feel bad about changing plans, about staying late at the office, about having to explain to people why you work so hard. If you have been communicating with everyone around you effectively and you have learned to share your downtime, they will understand when it is worktime.
5. Get to know your work self
Closing new business, pushing deals through gives me a rush and sense of satisfaction. Seeking these amazing feelings at times results in taking on more projects than I can deal with. I have learned to recognize when I am taking on too much at work and discuss it with co-workers and business partners. You have to find the line between success and excess and seek the perfect medium.
6. Get where you want to go
More important than any list, have a vision. Find something that drives you not only at work, but also outside during beautiful day-to-day living. For me right now this means not showing up late to my squash games, spending holidays with my family, and attending birthdays and weddings of loved ones, but at the same time not feeling bad if I have to miss one because a real work emergency comes up.
In the future I hope not to be late when picking up one of my children from school, and I hope to be part of a family whose love and support make us a team.
I love my job but know that Karōshi, won’t serve me, my job, or the people in my life. The Japanese also have a word for those who are able to escape the workaholic world – datsurara. This word used to mean dropout, but today when technology makes it all but impossible to unplug and reconnect to the world, datsura describes a healthy new lifestyle that incorporates both entrepreneurship and balance.