How to resist being a workaholic

As strange as it may sound 2021 is expected to be full of people with expectations. It is regarded that one out of seven people suffers from addictions related to substances in the United States. But how many people are addicted to work?

Apart from the fact that overdoing at work may be destructive for the individual, it has a series of effects on the surrounding environment, beginning with the family. It is more than necessary to overcome any difficulties that drive you in that condition. If you have people heading in that direction, you should point out the situation to them and encourage them to take the matter seriously.

If you give it a thought in the coronavirus era that working has been transferred to home, the situation has become very complicated. It is estimated that after the end of the quarantine only 40% of the employees are expected to return to the office. Big companies seek to lower the cost of facilities and probably suggest the employees establish the remote work. Some financial analysts even expect a considerable decrease in real estate for these properties considering that the demand will decrease significantly. As you may assume, boundaries between work and free time are not clear. Let’s see how we can overcome this new reality following these four simple steps.

1. Physical health
   The number one priority is to take care of your physical health. Pay attention, so that you don’t skip any meals, and sleep seven to eight hours per day. Ideally, make sure that your sleeping hours are consistent during the night, when there is no light and the melatonin can be released from your brain to improve your sleep. Stay hydrated throughout the day and carry half a gallon of water with you where you work in order to be able to count your water consumption. Additionally, steal some time from work to do some physical exercise. If you are not fond of that idea, establish at least three days per week when you will go to the gym for an hour or two.
   
2. The schedule
   It is essential to have particular hours throughout the day where you are expected to work. If you have an office and have to go there to work, it will be easier for you to be strict about your work hours. If that is the case, don’t even think about bringing work at home. When you turn off the laptop, this is when your career comes to an end for the day. For those of you who work from home, it is an excellent idea to set an alarm clock to remind yourselves that you have to stop. That way, you will also stress to finish all the desired work on time and stay focused while you work.
   
3. A Plan
   To make sure you work on a timetable and you are still satisfied with your performance at work, you have to have to feel adequate in what you are doing. Make a list with the priorities of each day. Pick some of the tasks that will require the amount of time that is within your schedule. To be precise, you want to calculate your time so that you will finish your work fifteen minutes earlier. This way, you will pressure yourself to abandon its harmful habits and force him to discipline with the new situation.
   
4. Your identity
   A crucial reason why we turn into work is that it is valued by our society as an extremely important aspect of our lives. Our prestige is highly dependent on our results at work, whether we got promoted, or if we are the owners or head executives of a big company. Do not confuse your identity with your work performance, and do not expect to form your self-respect from your work. Adopt a mindset where work is a place in your life where you gain the salary you need to live a happy life. Of course, it can be more than that; it can be your career and a fulfilling experience. If work is more than that, that’s fine as long as you do not end up reaching conclusions that imply work is the only playground that will make you feel safe.