Do you really know?

How can I beat my work addiction ?

Apr 13, 2025

Explore the complex world of work addiction, a mental health condition that blurs the lines between hard work and harmful obsession. Discover how it differs from simply working long hours and learn about the risks it poses to mental well-being. Unravel the underlying factors that contribute to becoming a workaholic, along with effective strategies for managing this relentless urge to work. This engaging discussion sheds light on the darker side of hustling and offers insights for those seeking a healthier work-life balance.

04:36

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Workaholism, first identified by Wayne Oates, is a mental health condition characterized by an uncontrollable need to work incessantly.

Recognizing work addiction through assessment tests and implementing boundary-setting strategies are crucial steps toward achieving a healthier work-life balance.

Deep dives

Understanding Workaholism

Workaholism is recognized as a mental health condition characterized by an uncontrollable need to work incessantly. This addiction, first described by psychologist Wayne Oates in 1971, manifests as an inability to disconnect from work, even during personal time. Research has shown that while long working hours alone do not necessarily lead to health problems, workaholics tend to experience more health complaints, emotional exhaustion, and sleep issues. The pressure to succeed and maintain social status can contribute to work addiction, creating a vicious cycle of increasing workloads and compulsive working behavior.

Understanding Work Addiction and Its Consequences

5min

Being a grafter or hustler is often portrayed in a positive light when it comes to the world of work. But there are a host of negative consequences that can arise when a person becomes a workaholic. The term was invented by American psychologist Wayne Oates back in 1971.

Oates said workaholics had “an uncontrollable need to work incessantly”, and called it an addiction. It’s a real mental health condition, and like with other addictions, it manifests as the inability to stop doing something.

So it basically means working really long hours, does it? Who is most likely to become a workaholic? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

Why do dogs often look like their owners?

How can I free myself from negative thoughts?

Is intermittent fasting good for your health?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 1/4/2023

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices