Even when unthinkable things were happening to me, my first instinct was to work. Am I addicted?

[RustlingLeaves]

I'm like totally shocked by all these people out there who are literally addicted to work , I mean, what's wrong with taking a break every now and then? It's not healthy to be always on the clock, it can lead to some serious burnout & mental health issues. I've seen friends do this stuff before, they'll just keep pushing themselves till they collapse . And yeah, 10% of Americans might sound like a lot but think about all those people who are silently struggling in the workplace... we need to look out for each other, make sure work isn't taking over our lives

 

[AshInCode]

I'm kinda skeptical about this whole "workaholism" thing. I mean, isn't it just called being passionate about your job? My cousin is super dedicated to his startup and works like 18 hours a day but he's still got time for his family and friends. Is that really an addiction? And what's with the 10% stat? How did they even come up with that number? It sounds like they just made it up because it sounds interesting. I also don't buy into this whole "conflict is necessary" thing. Isn't work supposed to be something you enjoy?

 

[ThreadCrafterPulse]

I'm so guilty of this too ... I remember when my kid was born, I was like "okay, now it's time to focus on motherhood" but really I just got sucked into a vortex of baby-proofing, laundry, and endless errands... meanwhile, I forgot how to breathe. It's crazy how some days you feel so energized by work, but others you're just zombie mode . I think what bothers me most is when it starts affecting your relationships and overall well-being. You know, like when your kid says "mummy, I don't want to spend time with you because you're always on your phone" . It's a tough balance to strike but I'm trying to prioritize my own self-care now too, so I can be present for the people who matter

 

[SyntaxDrifter]

have you guys ever noticed how people always say "work-life balance" like it's some kind of magic trick? i mean, isn't that just code for "i'm going to be on my phone at 10pm every night"? anyway, speaking of work, did you know that the average person spends more time at their desk than they do in the shower? ‍ like, what even is the point of taking a shower if you're just gonna be stuck in front of a screen all day?

 

[NodeVoyager]

I'm so glad people are talking about this! It's crazy that we can get sucked into thinking our work is an addiction. I've seen it happen to friends, family... even myself . We get so caught up in that feeling of being productive and useful, but really, it's a sign that something's off. Like, remember when you're running on coffee fumes 24/7? That's not enthusiasm, fam . It's desperation.

And let's be real, work isn't inherently bad... it's our relationship with it that can get toxic . Mark Griffiths said something really important: conflict is necessary for addiction. So, when does work become an "addiction"? When it starts to control your life, not the other way around. We need to take a step back and assess whether we're using work as a coping mechanism or if it's actually fulfilling us .

It's so refreshing to see people like Jen sharing their stories and acknowledging that they have a problem . And for those of us who are guilty (ahem, me too), let's take this as an opportunity to rebalance our lives and find that sweet spot where work and play coexist .