The Phenomenon of Workaholism: How to Recognize It and Not Let It Consume You

Feb 19, 2025 7 min reading

Working hard is often seen as a virtue in society. But when does healthy work commitment turn into an unhealthy obsession? How can you tell when it’s no longer about efficiency but rather constant pressure and stress? And most importantly—how can you set boundaries that protect you from burnout?

What is Workaholism and How to Recognize It?

I don’t want to present a textbook definition of workaholism here. Instead, I aim to practically describe the manifestations, causes, and consequences of workaholism.
Workaholism is about obsession. A workaholic operates on autopilot, ignores the need for rest, and believes they are irreplaceable. However, an overworked brain functions like a slow computer—it freezes, makes mistakes, and eventually crashes. It’s essential to distinguish:

Manifestations of healthy industriousness → I work efficiently, can rest, and engage in other activities.
Manifestations of workaholism → I work constantly because I feel that otherwise, I will fail.
👉 Petra hasn’t taken a proper vacation in three years. She’s always catching up and feels that without her, the company would fail. And when she finally takes time off, she still checks her emails. She feels important, but in reality, she is constantly exhausted.

Overwork: Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Inability to Switch Off – Do you take your laptop on vacation “just in case”? And you end up working anyway.
Guilt When Not Working – You have a moment of free time, and anxiety hits you because you’re not doing anything.
Physical Effects – Do you wake up at night with your head full of tasks? Do you often have headaches? Do you feel permanently tired?
Workaholism and Relationships – Do your loved ones complain that you’re always at work, or even when you’re home, your thoughts are elsewhere?
Permanent Stress – Do you feel the pressure to constantly prove something and have the impression that you never finish anything?
If you recognize yourself in this, it’s time to admit that work may be taking over your life. Healthy work commitment is about balance.

Why Do We Think Workaholism is a Virtue?

Workaholism is often disguised in society as a sign of loyalty, ambition, and dedication. The more we work, the more valuable we feel—at least until our body and mind begin to say STOP.
Let’s be honest: how many times have you heard the phrase “I still check emails on vacation”? Today, it’s not a warning sign but almost a badge of honor. However, this pride comes at a cost.

Workaholism doesn’t affect everyone equally. According to NZIP, women are more often affected than men, and those with higher education and leadership positions are also at greater risk. Why? Perfectionism, responsibility, and performance pressure tend to be higher among them than in other professions.

To justify workaholism, we often convince ourselves of these myths:

Myth 1: Long hours mean better performance.
Reality: Overwork causes mistakes, lowers performance, and can lead to complete burnout.
Myth 2: Multitasking is a superpower.
Reality: Switching between tasks exhausts the brain and reduces productivity by up to 40%, as demonstrated by studies from the American Psychological Association.
Myth 3: Workaholism leads to success.
Reality: Long-term overload doesn’t end in promotion but in burnout. Performance declines, motivation wanes, and instead of recognition, fatigue sets in.

Workaholism: Treatment Begins with Understanding the Causes

Workaholism doesn’t start in the first job, but much earlier. Deeply ingrained patterns from childhood, pressure to perform, and a corporate culture that rewards overworking—all of this plays a role.

👉 Upbringing and Social Norms
“No pain, no gain.” “Duties first, then fun.” Does this sound familiar? Of course, we’ve all heard it at some point. These phrases instill in us from childhood the idea that a person’s value is measured by their work performance. When we feel tired or need a break in adulthood, we feel guilty.

Tereza grew up in a family where success meant hours spent working. When she started her career, she didn’t know that work could be done differently. She stayed late at the office, took on her colleagues’ tasks, until one day she caught herself not even knowing why she was doing it—she just felt that “that’s how it should be.

👉 Pressure to Perform and the Need for Recognition
Perfectionism, fear of failure, the need to be indispensable—all these are internal triggers of workaholism. If we feel that we have to earn our rest, we never actually take it.

Psychological factors that contribute to workaholism:

Self-worth derived from performance – “If you don’t work hard and long, you’re not good enough.” People with this mindset believe their value is directly proportional to what they can achieve. Once they slow down, feelings of failure arise.
Fear of Failure – Many workaholics fear that if they don’t work at 110%, they will mess something up or be surpassed by someone else. This fear is often rooted in childhood, where they were praised only for successes, not for effort itself.
Imposter Syndrome – “I’m not good enough; I have to work twice as hard.” People with this syndrome feel their successes are accidental and that sooner or later, someone will discover they actually know nothing. Thus, they overexert themselves to “earn” their position.
Addiction to Recognition – Workaholics often seek validation from the outside. When someone praises them for their work commitment, they feel satisfaction. The problem? This need never ends, and the person spirals into an endless cycle of performance.
Fear of Emptiness – Some people work constantly because they don’t know what else they would do. Work becomes an escape from problems, insecurities, or uncomfortable emotions. Once they take time off, anxiety hits.
Corporate Culture and Collective Pressure
Studies show that a competitive work environment and perfectionistic demands significantly increase the risk of workaholism. It’s not just about what is expected of us—we often are the ones who try to continually prove our worth through overtime and performance.

Toxic Work Environment: When Work Becomes a Trap

Sometimes we are to blame for our workaholism, but often we are pushed into it by unspoken rules at work. How can you tell that work is slowly draining you?

Overtime as the Norm
Unclear Boundaries – You are expected to be available in the evenings and on weekends.
Comparison with Other Colleagues and Pressure
“Marek worked in a company where the boss would drop comments like: ‘Are you leaving already? We’re still grinding away here.’ And so, Marek stayed. Not because he had more work—but because he was afraid of what others would think.

Manipulation: How They Can Get You to Where You Don’t Want to Be

Some companies (and people) are great at playing on your ego and sense of guilt. What does this look like?

Emotional Blackmail – “I thought you were a team player…”
Attacks on Ego – “If you don’t do it, who will?”
Comparison with Colleagues – “Jana has worked ten hours more than you…”
Subtle Threats – “Management notices who is really working hard.”

How to Get Out of It?

Workaholism is not an inevitable fate but a habit that can be changed. If you feel stuck in an endless loop of work and stress, it’s time to reevaluate your approach. It’s not about doing less—it’s about working smarter. How to do that?

First, reflect: What drives you to work constantly? Fear that you won’t get everything done? Or the feeling that if you’re not working, you’re not good enough? The truth is, the more you overwork yourself, the less effective you are. Both your brain and body need breaks; otherwise, performance declines.

So What to Do?
1.Time Management: Don’t Work More, Work Smarter

Set Priorities – What is truly important? What can you let go of?
Work in Blocks – For example, the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of break) helps maintain focus.
Delegate – Don’t take everything on yourself. Your colleagues are there too—utilize them!

2. Say NO Without Guilt
Have they offered you another project, but you’re already overwhelmed? Refusal is not weakness; it’s self-defense. Try saying: “I would love to help, but I currently have my hands full.” No excuses, no apologies. A clear and direct NO is perfectly acceptable.

How HR and Managers Can Help?

A healthy corporate culture is essential. Leaders should support a work-life balance. How?

Don’t send emails at ten in the evening, and if you must, schedule them to send in the morning.
Support flexible working hours – Not everyone is most productive from nine to five.
Respect employees’ free time – Vacation is vacation. Period. Upon returning from vacation, employees should have time to catch up on their agenda.

Remember: Better performance does not arise under pressure and stress but with a clear mind and plenty of energy.

Work Is Not Life

Workaholism is not a sign of success but a dead end. Don’t wait for burnout. Learn to say NO, set your boundaries, and remember: quality work doesn’t come from ten hours in the office but from a clear mind and plenty of energy.