Burning Out? How to Stop "Workaholism"

If you find that you spend too much of your time working, your life will soon be much less satisfying than it once was. It's easy to get caught up in your work, staying late, working through lunch and breaks can wreak havoc on your well-being. Sometimes you don't even realize it until it is too late, but you can break this unhealthy habit.

The Underlying Problem

Often, you get swept up with becoming a workaholic because of an underlying problem. It's true that sometimes you may experience much pressure at work to get things done on time, but more often than not, you'll find that you're using your work to hide from other problems in your life.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you working too much because of financial strain?

• Are you trying to avoid your home life?

• Are you using work to avoid some other issue you're facing?

If you are overworking yourself because of financial reasons, you can only do it for so long. Sooner or later your mental and physical health will begin to suffer. You need to work hard with an end date in mind. Perhaps it's time to consider looking for a better-paying job.

If you're avoiding problems at home, you must learn to face these problems head-on. They aren't going to go away just because you've been escaping the situation. The only way things will improve is if you take action to resolve what's bothering you.

Balance Out Your Life

Once you've solved any underlying problems, you'll want to bring balance back to your life. In order to wean yourself from your work, there are certain tips you can utilize to change your working habits.

Try some of these techniques:

1. Schedule time for yourself. Realize that you and your health are ultimately more important than your work. Schedule time for yourself and treat that time as more important than any of your other deadlines. Practicing self-care will be crucial to your success.

2. Unwind at the end of the day. Decide on a firm bedtime and unwind before going to bed. Decide when you're going to sleep and, approximately 30 minutes beforehand, engage in a relaxing activity that has nothing to do with your work.

3. Exercise. Incorporate a moderate exercise routine into your schedule a few times each week. Exercise will help you relax and release some of your stress from work. It's great for both your physical and mental health and is a good way to break yourself from overworking.

4. Take a mental health day. You need days off from your work from time to time. It's just a fact. If you have a traditional job where you have weekends free, you must spend them away from work. On your days off, avoid even thinking or talking about work.

Start Slow

Remember that these changes don't have to happen all at once, but you can start incorporating them into your life one at a time. Your life can't be all about work. Spend time doing activities that you enjoy outside of work. Implement one or two of these strategies and you'll soon realize that there is life outside of work.

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About: Careerspresso was created to help advance the careers of people re-entering the workforce after an extended break. Morganne Gervais will show you how to get Back to Work, get a raise, get a promotion and become the obvious choice for every opportunity. Follow to stay up on the latest and greatest in career coaching.

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