I was recently speaking with a friend who is a fresh
medical school graduate who has begun the grueling residency process. When I asked what his schedule was like, he
told me that the maximum the hospital has them work is 80 hours per week and a
minimum of 60 hours per week. Baffled by
this overwhelming workload (overwhelming at least in my opinion), I sought the
perspective of another person who explained that we should all want residents
to work so much to ensure exposure to as many medical situations as plausible
during their three year residency. While
this is a logical argument and I can’t dismiss it entirely, I also can’t help
but wonder if this structure is the best for these doctors or patients who
receive their care. After all, if a
doctor works 80 hours in a six day work week, they are essentially working over
13 hours per day. This only leaves them
11 remaining hours to recharge their batteries in another environment. If a doctor is approaching 13 hours on their
shift, do you want to be the patient receiving this care? Yet, on the flip-side, I am forever indebted
to the labor and delivery nurse who worked beyond the end of her shift to
ensure that my first-born son entered the world safely. So, kudos to her for the passion and
dedication to medicine! I give this
example because I know nothing is ever all good or all bad…after all, inspired
employees are the backbone to thriving companies. This is certainly not a forum to encourage laziness!
But what happens when inspiration goes down the
slippery workaholism slope? Does
workaholism even have to be found in the number of hours the person works? What about the person who works a “regular”
schedule but cannot mentally let it go when they leave their employer? They aren’t as engaged in their normal life,
because the subtle preoccupation with works prevents them from fully engaging
in the present moment. This would
describe me in my former work life.
While I worked a part-time schedule, I found myself constantly torn by
the requirements of my job while I was at home.
I would field emails and phone-calls during my days “off.” I wore this as a badge of honor. I was needed. I was helping the lives of the employees at my
company. I was a champion for justice,
right?! But, what about the justice that
my home-life was seeking from me? Why
wasn’t it enough for me to be present right at home with my three little
ones? Therefore, even with an ideal
part-time, flexible work schedule, I made the decision to quit this job and
dive into full-time mommyhood. I am not
advocating that women need to be at home to avoid workaholism, but I am a
living example that workaholism can take many shapes and sizes. Have we paused to consider if these scenarios
might be workaholism?
…The truck driver who is technically driving under the
government hour requirements, so he dismisses the danger of taking energy drinks
while driving on the road sleepy and tired.
…The pastor who attends every congregation visit so not
to tax the church members to find more volunteers, while the pastor’s wife
quietly holds down the fort at their own home.
…The principal of a school who attends every single
school function, because the students and parents absolutely must see her
presence, even though her own children would love to have more time learning
under her care.
…The police officer who signs up for as many overtime
shifts as possible to help protect and serve, while he secretly drowns in his
own oppressive depression.
…The retail manager who works every holiday shift to
give his staff a break, but never sees his own parents or siblings on the
holidays.
This isn’t intended to shame anyone or send anyone on a
guilt-trip. Rather, it is to acknowledge
that workaholism is a real issue, and it isn’t just delegated to the CEO of a
company. When we revere people for
living on five hours of sleep for pursuing work goals or praise professionals
for climbing the corporate ladder at the detriment of their outside lives, we
perpetuate the cycle. We encourage the
myth that this is admirable and maintainable without costs in other areas of
life. Perhaps we should be more careful about
what badges of honor we choose to wear and which we choose to award other people.
Props to those who have found a way to
balance the delicate pendulum of working diligently and also embracing the
other facets of life. This is a true
badge of honor.
Changepoints:
We
might knowingly or unknowingly engage in workaholism, because:
- We are used to constantly
juggling life and don’t know how to truly relax.
- We are driven by money or
prestige more than we care to admit.
- We are more comfortable with
our work lives than any of our outside identities.
- We are afraid of lay-offs and
the economic downturn of past years.
- How can you establish healthy
boundaries to protect yourself when you are moving from passion to pitfall?
- Which people in your life can
act as a support system or referee when you are placing too much emphasis on
your work?
Be a great worker, but also be a greater achiever of
life!
