Am I Overworking or Am I Avoiding?

Once you have overcome addiction to substances, it can be easy for those addictive tendencies to show up in other aspects of your life. Work is one of the easiest areas for addictive tendencies to appear by far. There are some red flags you can look out for and, like any other addiction, there are things you can do to prevent the workaholic pitfall. 

Overworking might not just be a hyper-fixation or dedication to your career. You could be doing it to avoid a deeper underlying issue. If this is the case, there are things that you can do to correct these lingering issues.

What Overworking Looks Like

Overworking can have some serious repercussions. It can manifest in different ways, but three signs appear more than others for most people.

Working Extra Hours

A question that you may need to ask yourself is, "Do I need to put in the extra hours?" If you have a goal in mind, like finishing a big project before an approaching deadline, or saving up for something special, this may not be an issue. It becomes an issue when you constantly do overtime despite the non-necessity.

Thinking About Work When You're Not There

Do you find that when you are at home you are thinking about what needs to be done the next day at work? Again, this may be okay if you have a big presentation the next day, or a similar scenario. Although, if you have no logical reason to be thinking about work, yet continue to do so while you should be enjoying your relaxation time at home, you may fall into the “workaholic” category. 

Neglecting Other Responsibilities

If you find that your home chores are not getting done as they should be because you are too exhausted from pushing yourself at work, you are probably overworking. This can also show up as neglected relationships, parental duties, or mental and emotional health care.

What You're Avoiding

If you have identified that you are overworking, dig into what issues may underlie your overworking tendencies. Maybe there are unresolved personal issues that you do not want to deal with. Maybe you have a disruptive home life that you are trying to avoid. Whatever it is, identify the thing you are avoiding. Naming the problem is usually the hardest part of the process, but once you have, you can begin to tackle the issue head-on. 

How to Correct This Behavior

There are lots of things you can do to correct overworking. Often, the correct path is dependent on your “why.” Here are some things that can get you thinking about how to address your overworking.

Scheduling

Scheduling is by far the easiest thing to do to correct overworking. Do not simply block out time for work, but block out time for fun, relaxation, and socializing.

This method is best for people who find they just do not know when to stop. If you like to work on a problem until it is fully resolved, you may have a hard time walking away from work in the middle of something, even when it is time to go home. Scheduling can help manage your time.

Yet, this may not be the solution if you are simply avoiding homelife. Blocks of time for work followed by blocks of time for workouts, video gaming, or solitarily watching TV do not solve the deeper issue.

Finding a Hobby

Finding a hobby can help keep overworking in check. This is especially if your overworking problem stems from not knowing what to do now that you are sober and your time is no longer taken up with substance seeking or using behaviors. 

A hobby can help fill that hole. Try a hobby that makes you feel productive at first. Gardening can help you feel productive because it can be laborious at times, provides mental health benefits, and even produces food if you are planting vegetables and fruits.

The important thing to keep in mind is that a hobby should be for you. It should be something that you want to do, something that brings you joy, even if there is hard work involved.

Seek Professional Help

If those options fail, seek professional help. A therapist is well equipped to guide you through managing your overworking problem. The other benefit is that, in seeking professional help, like with NorthStar Transitions, you will be able to address the underlying issues. You will not only be able to stop overworking, but you will also be able to address the reasons why you started doing it in the first place.

There are a lot of similarities between overworking and addiction. Like addiction, overworking is treatable if you put in the effort to change. It may be a difficult journey but with the right mindset, you can overcome this problem.

Knowing you are overworking is only half the battle, which can be difficult to hear. You may feel comfortable in your sobriety but something feels off. That off feeling could be because you are using work to avoid something. That something could be many things and can be hard to identify. A lot of people struggle with these types of feelings. Sometimes you need to reach out for help. NorthStar Transitions, located in Boulder, CO, can be the place to find that help. We believe in good aftercare treatment for those in recovery from substance use disorder, so we can coach you through issues with overworking to get back to your healthiest self in recovery. If you or someone you know is in need of treatment, you can take the first steps by calling NorthStar Transitions today at (303) 558-6400.
 

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