ADDICTED TO WORK

Trying to find the right work-life balance in a pandemic led some of us to may have struggle to 'switch off' after business hours

- CARLA COETZEE

IT MIGHT happen imperceptibly. At first, you struggle to talk about anything other than work. Then your loved ones start complaining you work too much. Then you realize you feel anxious when you're not working.

You might think of it as having a good work ethic or being committed to your job. Being a "workaholic" is often seen as a sign of dedication and ambition. But when you start setting everything else aside in favour of work, and your relationships start to suffer, it could be because you're addicted to work.

Work pressure has increased dramatically since the 1970s, says Rean Steenkamp, a Pretoria life coach. "Employees are working faster and harder than was the case in the past."

But there's a difference between being engaged with your work, and being addicted to it. Engagement comes from the fact that you're motivated and enjoy your work, whereas if you're addicted to it it's due to an inner compulsion driven by an underlying psychological need.

Finding the right work-life balance may have become even more difficult over the past two years for those who've found themselves working from home due to the pandemic.

It's become easier to fall into a cycle of working too much, says Reinette Engelbrecht, a psychologist from Roodepoort, on Gauteng's West Rand.

Here's how to tell if you're a workaholic and what you can do about it if you are.

SIGNS YOU'RE ADDICTED TO WORK

"Anything can be considered an addiction when it takes up too much of your time and attention and makes you neglect other things, Engelbrecht explains.

The following can be signs of work addiction, she says: