Workaholics work longer hours than necessary. They work more than what is specified in their contract and more than financially necessary. Workaholics also work compulsively. They are obsessed with work, find it hard to switch off, and get restless when not working. The term workaholism is a reference to other addictions as the behavior (working) is a compulsion that is difficult to control while it has harmful consequences. Indeed, research shows that workaholics have poorer family relationships, well-being, and health. Before we jump to conclusions, however, it is important to unravel what precisely makes workaholism unhealthy.
The hours are not the problem
A key characteristic of workaholics is that they work long hours. Working long hours is not necessarily bad for health. In fact, in a study among 763 Dutch consultants, I found that work hours were unrelated to physical health complaints such as headaches, stomach upsets, and sinus infections. An important side note is that those consultants had good working conditions, scheduled their hours flexibly, and had enough time for recovery. Working long hours is only sustainable if a work spree is followed by a lower workload or time off.
Excessive work hours demanded by a company, over which an employee has no control, are unhealthy and can have heartbreaking consequences. Unique for many workaholics, is an inner drive to work hard. They set the bar high themselves and work more than expected by their employer. If you are the one driving your work hours, and you take time to recover, the hours themselves are unlikely to be the problem.
The compulsion is the problem
The second core trait of workaholics is that they work compulsively. An obsession with work, and not letting go of work thoughts, is unhealthy. The workaholics in my study had a high need for recovery after a workday. They also reported more depressive feelings and sleep problems than non-workaholics. Workaholics find it difficult to detach from work. By staying connected to work, they keep stress levels elevated, putting their health under pressure.
Ongoing stress first results in relatively innocent health complaints like headaches or recurring colds. Over time, however, stress wears on the body. It can push important biomarkers out of range. For instance, if you have an important deadline, cortisol levels go up. Cortisol is a hormone that mobilizes energy. It increases your heart rate and blood pressure so that you can perform. Once you make the deadline, cortisol levels decrease and make space for hormones that repair your body. However, if you immediately move on to the next work task, your cortisol levels stay high. Your body does not get the repair it needs. Worse, your body now thinks that the higher blood pressure is the new normal. This is the start of a downward spiral in which higher blood pressure triggers a host of undesirable effects in your body, like increased cholesterol. At that point, there is a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and eventually death.
Using data from health screenings, I looked for this downward spiral in workaholics. Workaholics not only reported more minor health complaints (headaches, stomach upsets), but also scored higher on biomarkers – blood pressure, waist measurement, cholesterol, and triglycerides – that health professionals use to assess someone’s risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The higher health risk among workaholics happened regardless of how many hours they worked. Thus, workaholics’ compulsive mentality seems the main culprit in this health risk.
Why loving your job matters for your health
‘But what if I love my job?’, you might ask. Then I have good news for you. Workaholics who enjoyed their work, got carried away by their tasks, and were dedicated to their profession differed in an important way from workaholics who did not enjoy their work. “Engaged” workaholics did build up some initial mental and physical health problems. But that is where the spiral stopped. They did not have a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. Workaholics who love their job thus seem to intervene when their health gets too bad. This leads to a few important tips to protect your health when you are a workaholic.
1. Do not ignore minor health issues. If your work keeps you awake at night, or if you have recurring headaches, do not ignore those red flags. Your body is trying to tell you that you are overdoing it. If you want to play the long game, find a way to do your job differently.
2. Reflect on your motivation for work. Doing your job differently starts with an honest conversation about why you work. Healthy motivations include enjoying your job and finding it meaningful. Unhealthy motivations are money and status. Healthy motivations make you happier at work and make you look for sustainable solutions to keep doing what you love.
3. Take stock of your resources. Think about ways to do your job smarter. What support do you have at home and at work? Can you schedule work differently, choose other work assignments, or outsource tasks? Can you say no to work tasks you don’t like?
4. Have a Plan B. If the sleepless nights do not go away, it might be time for an exit strategy. Save up for this exit strategy to never be put in a work situation you cannot walk away from.
Workaholism stems from the Protestant work ethic that underlies the American culture. A work approach that is so culturally ingrained is difficult to change. With small steps, however, we can slowly move toward a “work hard, play hard” mentality. Work hard, enjoy your work, and switch off regularly to recharge your body for the next performance.