Do you love your work than more g v v J V Vare your children i. i Diane Cashel Director Alcohol and Drug Education YOU OU are a highly motivated and energetic individual and you love your work You love your work so much that you find it difficult to f call it a day Are your family social and leisure time becoming indistinguishable from your work time tim These are the characteristics of a workaholic is the addiction most rewarded in our culture It is socially acceptable ac yet can be as destructive to your health and family as any other addiction occurs in every profession Many companies companies companies com com- encourage employees to make their work an important im- im important important im im- part of their family and social life There is an overall cultural pressure to perform Competitiveness is a staple of the workplace workplace-it it is praised and rewarded Competitiveness Competitiveness Com Com- can also breed compulsive work disorders If you have been receiving friendly hints from your coworkers co- co coworkers coworkers workers that maybe you should lighten up or slow down downa a bit or if your family has been expressing concern about your apparent devotion to your job then it may be time you ou paid some friendly concerned attention to the possibility possibility possibility pos pos- that you are developing an addiction to work Consider the following Do you feel guilty when you are not working Are you uneasy when on vacation Do you communicate better with workers co-workers than with family and friends Do you work when you could be e relaxing Do you prefer being at work compared to being anywhere els else Answering yes to several of f these questions does not m make ke you a workaholic but may indicate a tendency or movement in that direction Workaholics need to reorganize their priorities regarding regarding regarding regard regard- ing family and work Ask yourself Is work truly more important than my family and loved ones Undoubtedly it is not By limiting your time at work and devoting the time and energy to your family you'll not only Give them assurance of you love but also give them a chance to love and help you This does not mean that you cant can't work hard but you need to remember that balance is the key A happy healthy person has a life of many facets an and many types of success If you would like any additional information feel free freeto freeto freeto to contact the Alcohol and Drug Education program at