When did you become a workaholic?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
September 2, 2007 8:21pm CST
I've been working online for the past three years or so trying to make money. And, sometimes I make money. Other times I don't. But, I've found that working online (while at home) is an easy way to turn into a compulsive workaholic. You have unlimited time to chase endless tangents and follow up on useless leads. And, you have 24 hour unlimited access to your computer. So, there is no such thing as a sleepless night. My brain knows better than to keep me awake for too long or else I'll just get up and start working some more.
With that being said, I think that I've always been a workaholic. Even before I was working online, I would make a "job" out of anything and everything that I did. Even my relaxing past-times like crochet became a job. For some reason, I was trying to speed crochet all the time, to finish up projects and that took all the fun out of it. And even housework became more of a full time profession. When I devote my time and effort to cleaning or anything for that matter, it gets way overdone. I'm not bragging, but some of us are natural born workaholics at everything we do. And, unfortunately, not everything a workaholic does pays too well.
Nowadays, I try to find a healthy balance between working and spending time with my family. My little kid is growing up so fast and I've been missing it all. So, that's my story. When did you become a workaholic? Have you always been a workaholic? How does over-working, over-achieving attitude affect your family or personal life? Does your family complain that you are constantly working and have no time for them?
3 people like this
16 responses
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
3 Sep 07
When I was pregnant with my son, I started to become a workaholic. I was working at the barbershop for about 25-30 hours a week. I also spent about that many hours every week looking for ways to make money online. If I wasn't doing one of those things, I was looking at baby things, or cleaning, and recleaning everything we had for the baby.
After I had my son, I didn't do as much work on my computer. I didn't have the time! I still worked at the barbershop, plus I had a newborn to take care of. When I cut back on hours when my son was 6 months old, I started working more again online.
Now that I no longer work outside of my home, I spend about 8 to 10 hours a day working online, or writing articles if I have a deadline looming (that seems to be the only time I can REALLY focus! lol). That includes most weekends.
When I'm not working online, I also seem to face every task as a job. Whether it's cleaning my house, or putting old baby clothes in storage, etc. I am a major perfectionist about things like that.
I do try to make sure that I spend plenty of time everyday with my son. I play with him for 2-3 hours every morning, and another 2-3 in the afternoon. In the evening, it depends on what is going on with my husband, sometimes I spend 2 more hours with him. Pretty much I am either online, or playing with my son (or sleeping my 6 hours max a day). lol I might take a half day off from being online, if I need to go grocery shopping or something.
2 people like this
@gr8life (6251)
• Malaysia
3 Sep 07
Hello beautyqueen26,
I am not a workaholic myself and I can assure that easily *laughs* But I still do every single work that need to be done with full concentration, interest and carefully but I never overworked. I never bring my office work to home and whenever I am at home, my time is dedicated for my family and my house work of course... *smiles*
Still, my husband always makes sure that I come home on time and never drag my office work with me though he will do the other way round. He always remind me that my duty at home is to take care of the family and that means to take care of his need and our baby son.
2 people like this
@livvy092002 (1032)
• Philippines
3 Sep 07
I cant imagine myself being that workaholic. I can get very motivated in doing a certain job and i can work long hours in order to get the job become finished. But with physical body getting exhausted and tired, i really stop and take some rest.. the spirit is willing but the flesh surrenders.. :-)
I really believe in the saying that "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"... (and the other way around).. Really, we should when to work hard and we should know when to rest for awhile.. working hard is good but we shouldn't forget our other needs and other people who needs our care and attention. :-D
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
3 Sep 07
I have been a workaholic ever since I started to work from my youth. I still remember whenever I started to show great interest in it, I would always spend much time on it without wanting to even have a a good rest till I am completely tired and my mind is exhausted in having a clear one. I know that it is not good, but I find that I just cannot help it. I am trying not to be a workaholic, yet it is not an easier job. lol
1 person likes this
@d4rk3nds0ul (26)
• United States
3 Sep 07
God being a workaholic really does suck. I work at 2 jobs and find myself doing things online for money as well. it seem like thats all i do now, but i guess i want all that money so i continue to do it and complain. I do usually take a break to draw and do my homework but being a workaholic student my life seems to be the same every day. I do love all the money i make though.
1 person likes this
@ayu_asks (104)
• United States
3 Sep 07
I stopped working in FEb 2007 to accompany hubby to go to California to take up his master degree. I just started working online on my blog and YES I have turned into workaholic bcoz of the exact reasons u stated: there is no limit/dateline so u can spend practically 24 hours on the computer! hee hee ehee.. Actually I still prefer working in the office - at least i have some regularity... cheers, me... www.myhandbaghaven.blogspot.com
1 person likes this
@acuityplague (763)
• United States
3 Sep 07
I'm about as far from a workaholic as you can get. I may actually be the anti-workaholic! I do have bursts of activity, which keep my home clean and post's added to sites I belong to.
More likely than not though, you'll find me with my nose in a book and sucking on a slurpee. lol
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
15 Mar 08
i have been working 6 years now... but as a child, my mom have taught me to be diligent and not lazy, she would wake me up early in the morning so we can help in our family business.
so i guess that is where i started being a hard worker. i even became more workaholic now when i got promoted to my current task.
@venshida (4836)
• United States
3 Sep 07
I think I became a workaholic after high schol. I soon after got an apartment and full time job. I enrolled in college full time. I slowed down a bit a couple of years ago, but I am back to being a workaholic. I now work at home, and it seems like I am always working. I am constantly reviewing my schedule so hopefully I will find a balance soon. I think it is very important to have a balance.
@ifinallyfoundmybaby (1742)
• Philippines
4 Sep 07
i bacame workaholic when i was so intact with my job mostly when it comes to entertaining people, my friends can't even stop me specially i had to race for the quota each day. If i can't get that quota i wont stop till i get it
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
3 Sep 07
Yes I agree that when we are working at home, it's easier to turn ourselves into workaholics. When I worked on my website and blogs (still working), and I turned into a complete workaholics over the weekends, sitting there for the whole day concentrating on the problems or things I need to fix. But at the same time, I feel less pressure than being actually in a work place. I kind of enjoy working on my own and indeed I don't mind being a workaholic when I work on the stuff I love.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
3 Sep 07
If your talking about online work I can get really bad and sit here for hours because I do have a number of sites I work on. I just started a real part time job and don't ever see myself becoming a workaholic at that.
@tracy2008 (13)
• China
3 Sep 07
i have worked since 2005,time flies,more than 2 years past.frankly speaking,i am not a workaholic except that i must work.so generally i am a workaholic when i am on duty,but when off duty,i am not.
working is important,because we all hope to get a better life through it.but working is not whole life,we should enjoy life even if we are not rich.so do what we should do.when i am working,i become a workaholic;when i am in free time,i enjoy life,forget job.
1 person likes this
@bumblinbetty31 (121)
• Philippines
3 Sep 07
Sometimes we're so busy trying to make a living that we forget to live. I think it's better to simplify our lifestyle, and not want too many material things, than spend 7 days a week trying to make more money. Now, if you're a workaholic because you just love to do everything, and do it perfectly, you may wanna try just picking one great project at a time.
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
3 Sep 07
My family has complained a bit, but they are used to it - I've worked a lot since I was 19. My mom occasionally comments, but other than that, they are okay with it so long as I show up to the occasional dinner.
I like to focus on what i am doing, that's all.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
3 Sep 07
I am soooo not a workaholic! I wish I had a little more of those tendencies sometimes. My husband can be a workaholic though. It can be nervewracking especially since he is military and makes no extra money for all of his extra time!
