If you are up all night thinking about a stressful work project, or checking your smartphone at ridiculous and unimaginable hours of the night, you’re probably a workaholic. Dr. Karyn Gordon dropped by Cityline to talk about how to recognize the signs that you (or your spouse!) might be a workaholic.  In an unofficial survey, Gordon notes that 75% of the in-studio audience claims that either they or their spouses are self-proclaimed workaholics. 

How to tell if you’re a workaholic:

–    Whether it’s an upcoming work project, or a new job offer – You can’t say “no.”

–    You cannot stop thinking about work.

–    Your relationships are negatively affected: Studies have shown that a partnership with a workaholic is twice as likely to end in divorce.

–    Your social life is being ignored: There is no balance between work and fun.

–    You have difficulty sleeping.

–    You skip meals.

–    You see relaxation as a waste of time.

–    Your identity is attached to what you do.

–    You have difficulty delegating tasks to others.

–    You can’t turn your smartphone off: You’re constantly plugged in.

–    Other people tell you, “You’re a workaholic!”

Help for Workaholics:

Workaholics can suffer physically, emotionally, and through productivity.  Often people live with the mentality that they will get more done if they plough through non-stop; in reality it is more effective to pause, recharge, and resume when you are well-rested.

For getting help, the first step is acknowledging that there is a problem – denial is your worst enemy.

Make a transition between work and home.  Create a clear divide between your work time, and home time.  Minimizing your time on the smartphone is a great first step.

Setting boundaries is crucial while at home.  For example, set a dedicated time where you enforce a “no smartphone” policy, where your primary focus is spending time with your spouse and/or kids.  

Gordon stresses that starting with these baby-steps will ultimately make you more productive, and the outcome can even save a suffering relationship with your partner.