By Sanford Brooks

In this day and age our lives are lived in a fast-paced culture. With increasing daily demands, we feel as though we miss something if we blink. As our lives increasingly become more and more time consumed, demands on our time and personal lifestyle can take its toll. Over the past few years, studies have shown an increase in workaholic tendencies and work related stress.

It has been said that a certain amount of stress is good for you. It keeps you on your toes. You bring your “A” game to the table and keep your productivity high. But when control becomes an issue, that is when stress is detrimental to ones physical and mental health.

“Workplace stress” is the confluence of emotional and physical responses to inner office situations. The conflict arises and is heightened when the amount of control an individual has diminishes in meeting deadlines due to job demands. The ratio between a low control factor and a highly demanding job can lead to serious stress. The origin of workplace stress can stem from one isolated event or have an ongoing history stemming from a multitude of factors.

In some cases, stress may lead to workaholism. With todays uncertain and fluctuating job market, it is not surprising that workers feel some degree of job insecurity. Inner office dynamics may create a feeling of cautionary doubt if one is contemplating asking for clarification or explanation on the details of a particular project or task. Here we have two scenarios. A) A person may be fearful of losing their job by asking for help. To them it may exhibit ostentatiously their lack of competent skill and henceforth cause them to get fired. Or B) on the other hand, due to this fear, the worker may just take the given scant information and complete the project without any further instructions whatsoever only to later find out that it was done incorrectly and this person is also fired.

Stress can be created by inner office politics. Say for example, if someone drops the ball on meeting a project's deadline, there is fear that a co-worker may be all too willing to take over the task at hand and make the senior project leader look even more incompetent.

This pervasive fear within the workplace pushes the employee to their limits. They feel compelled to give 110% of themselves to prove their worth and to justify keeping them on the company payroll.

Technology is the workaholic's dream come true. Cell phones, Internet, email, pagers, laptop computers, fax machines, tele-video conferencing all have aided and abetted the workaholic. It has been the fuel to fire the unrestrained drive to work past 9 to 5 and well on late into the evening.

The ensuing result is that people are afraid of losing their jobs and thusly they dedicate too much time at the workplace. Perhaps to some degree, the individual may be unaware of their self-imposed assiduity. While this pleases the boss to no end, it snares the employee in the workaholic trap. Employers are always willing to get the most out of their staff. After all, it's good for business and increased productivity. They expect their staff to go that extra mile for the company, and all the while sacrificing the workers much needed quality time with family and friends.

Our society defines people by their work. If a worker doesn't put in that extra mile or go the extra distance, they may experience feelings of guilt. They feel as though they are not giving 110% to their job, their employer and to the overall quality of their work. Add to that the encumbering stigma of not being the “super worker” as one would wish to be perceived, especially by a superior or ultimately the boss.

Studies have shown that high blood pressure, hypertension, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, malaise, and low self esteem is on the increase. Aside from the incidents of an actual physical illness, these are the signs of stress and workaholism:

Working while on vacation - If you take your laptop with you while you're on vacation this may be a sign that you are a workaholic.

The number trail – If you frequently leave a telephone number where you can easily be reached. This applies if you are off company time. Another sign is if you actually answer the phone when the boss calls and you are off the clock but on your own time.

Seven day work week - Tight deadlines cause us to work late and even go in on weekends to get the project completed on time. If this happens too regularly this might be a warning sign.

Unusually late hours – If you spend two to three days a week at the office late into the night, even until early the next day, resulting in overall little rest.

Sleep talk - Some spouses have heard their partner talking in their sleep. The chatter is that of a business nature or dialogue. This is a clear sign that the individual is truly “talking their work home with them”. Even when in a Rapid Eye Movement state, when the body should be receiving its deepest and healthiest form of rest, the person is still “at the office” and suffering from work related stress.

Sleep pattern – If you find yourself not able to fall asleep or if you're sleeping way too much, these are signs of anxiety and stress.

Irritability – This is another red flag. If you find yourself unusually short tempered and for no apparent good reason.

Quality time - If you find yourself not spending enough time with your spouse, children or friends, you might be falling into the pattern of a workaholic.

Placing work before family – Frequent broken promises to your spouse, saying things like “I promise I'll take the kids to little league practice next week” but never making good on your word is another sign of a workaholic.

Lackadaisical interest - If you find that activities you once normally enjoyed become mundane and uninteresting, this is another sign of anxiety, stress and workaholism.

Self justification - One may try to reason with themselves that things will begin to look better once they are over the pressure of the “deadline hump”. You are only deluding yourself if this is the case.

All about me - If you tell yourself that you can stop this pattern any time you wish, this may also be a sign of a workaholic. If you are the first one in and the last one out the door at work, this is also a sign of a workaholic. If you find it difficult to “unwind” after the day is over, this is another sign of work related stress.

In some severe cases, the stress has been so bad that the person committed suicide.

Help is available, but it will take time. It will be a period of adjustment. The change will not happen over night, but eventually the change will set in and become a part of your normal daily life. You must make a conscious effort to break the pattern. It is important not to try to force the change all at once. Taking baby steps is the key to success.

Here are some helpful tips:

Evaluate your work life. Be very honest with yourself. Try to identify a key pattern of behavior before they become a major problem.

Take your much earned vacation time. Make time for yourself. Take baby steps to “wean” yourself from the pattern of over working. Start by enjoying every moment of your lunch break. Try to get away from your desk or cubicle when taking lunch.

One rule of thumb is to reduce your present workload. Cut it in half and if at all possible, cut that in half again. Delegate a portion of your responsibility to a co-worker if they have time in their work schedule.

Cultivate new or old hobbies such as gardening, pottery, painting or even writing a few thoughts down in a daily journal. Having the support of friends and family is extremely helpful towards breaking the cycle of stress and workaholism.

Getting plenty of rest and exercise is important. Try walking or bike riding. Eat healthfully and properly and try to cut down on coffee and sweets. Drink alcohol in moderation. Dedicate quality time for yourself, family and friends. If you find that you have been missing family dinners due to over work, take the time to get yourself away from this work pattern and commit to being home at dinner time with your loved ones. They will be glad you did!

Make the effort because in the long run you and your health is worth it. All work and no play does make a person dull. It can even be detrimental to one's good health and well being. Balancing work and your home life is the key to happy living.