What exactly is a workaholic?

Do you know the word "workaholic"? Have you ever thought about its composition? It consists of the words "work" and "alcoholic". This addiction has less to do with alcohol addiction and more to do with a general addictive behavior, in the case of "workaholics" with the addiction to work.

Work addiction is the incessant urge to have to work all the time. It is classified as a non-substance-related addiction. This strong need to work inevitably leads to a high level of work involvement. The fear of unproductivity and "wasted time" forces the person to work far beyond the prescribed and healthy workload. Studies, hobbies, leisure activities or voluntary work can also be pursued in a workaholic manner. Workaholism therefore does not necessarily have to be limited to paid work.

(Habermann, 2021; Poppelreuter, 2007; Schneider & Bühler, 2001)

How many people suffer from media addiction in Germany and worldwide?

Germany: approx. 10% of the working population (Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, 2023)

Worldwide: due to no standardized definition of work addiction, the figures vary between 8% and 40% of the working population (Hans Böckler Foundation, 2022)

RPTU: only data on presenteeism and study-life balance was collected, but this cannot be used to determine the prevalence of work addiction (UHR, 2021)

What worsens with use and what are the benefits of quitting?

The body is not given sufficient rest over a long period of time; people's productivity decreases. Fatigue and exhaustion in particular are very common symptoms of workaholism. They are often the trigger for further symptoms. Depressive moods are also frequent companions of workaholism. The internal pressure to be constantly productive and to meet high performance standards can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed and depressed, which promotes sleep disorders. Psychosomatic complaints such as back and neck pain also occur frequently. Concentration problems can have a negative impact on performance at work, during training or at university. Constant thoughts about work and the inability to switch off can also lead to anxiety and panic attacks. Possible burnout syndrome is a serious risk for people who suffer from workaholism, as they are constantly working beyond their limits and neglecting themselves. High blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia and stomach ulcers can all be caused by the excessive strain placed on the body by excessive work. These symptoms significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and also the risk of death!

Workaholics are almost incapable of delegating tasks and have great difficulty working in teams. It is not uncommon for private relationships to be destroyed and social isolation to increase further.

Overcoming work addiction not only means regaining a healthy work/study life balance, but also means a significant reduction in harmful health consequences. In addition, the burden on the social environment is greatly reduced and the productivity of the work performed increases significantly again. (Habermann, 2021; Schneider & Bühler, 2001)

What can I do about it or how do I manage to stop?

It is important to take the symptoms of workaholism seriously and seek professional help if necessary. Therapy for workaholism is not based on the principle of abstinence - abstinence in this case would mean unemployment or inability to work. Rather, a healthy relationship to work is retrained and the work-life balance is brought back into a natural relationship. A good work-life balance and the ability to set boundaries, delegate tasks and thus protect yourself are crucial for preventing workaholism.

Are there also positive sides?

In our working world, the classic "workaholic" is seen as having a positive character trait: they give their all to their work, take on all tasks and are always available and ready for action. Unfortunately, the fact that this supposedly positive character trait can actually be the cause of a serious illness, which is only exacerbated by this assumption by those around them, often goes undetected or is jokingly dismissed. (Anonymous work addicts, n.d.)