The Personality-Blog

Although workaholism (rather than merely working hard) carries with it the very same psychological, physiological, emotional and mental symptoms as alcohol, drug and other addictions, it’s the only one society actually rewards.

The following statistics reflect the sad reality of workaholics and their loved ones both in the United States and beyond its borders.

• Thirty-four percent of American adults don’t take their vacation days.
  Employed American adults, anyways. Expedia.com ran a survey in 2009 revealing just how many gave up their average of 13 vacation days every year.
  
• Workaholic marriages suffer disproportionately more than others.
  The divorce rate amongst couples with no workaholic spouse sits at around 16%. By contrast, workaholic marriages crumble at a 55% rate, owing to alienation and a sense that jobs control the family unit far more than…well…the family unit itself.
  
• Sixty-plus work-hour weeks are not uncommon.
  In fact, over 10 million Americans have to keep such grueling hours, though admittedly clinical workaholism isn’t always the motivating factor.
  
• Workaholics have a higher rate of heart disease.
  Although a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed the effects of workaholism on the body using British, Finnish and French subjects, what it discovered impacts the career-minded worldwide. Individuals working 11 hours a day or more suffer from 67% chance of coronary heart disease than those with about seven or eight.
  
• More severe workaholics can’t even relax on vacation without getting sick.
  Researchers in The Netherlands recognize a rare but serious condition they like to call “leisure sickness.” Roughly 3% of workaholics succumb to its grip, which can include anything from migraines and headaches to exhaustion and an overall flu-like feeling.
  
• Workaholics are more likely to suffer a job-related injury or illness.
  It really is common sense here. The more time one spends working, the more susceptible he or she is to end up sick or injured as a result. Chronic overtimers face a 61% increased risk over those without such habits.
  

Read the full article here …

How do you handle your work-life-balance?

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