How to Manage Work when You’re a Workaholic

I tend toward the workaholic end of the spectrum. If I’m not working, I can develop a guilty conscience. I know working all the time isn’t healthy, but I’m tempted all the same.

Because of the tendency, I have to exercise care with my identity and activities. It’s always a two-fold approach and always in that order. Dealing with the activities alone is behavior modification. It does nothing to address the heart issues that got me into the workaholic state in the first place.

Identity

People are generally defined by what they do, not who they are. The typical conversation at a networking event is sufficient proof:

“Hi, I’m Bill.”

“Hi, I’m Erin.”

“What do you do, Erin?”

I’m now in the position of being defined by what I do rather than who I am. Who I am is always richer (and potentially more complicated) than what I do. I’m not suggesting the conversations at networking events need to change, but I do think it’s important to clarify between doing and being.

What I do and who I am are not always the same thing. I do a lot of things. I’m a writer and poet and marketing strategist and…Those things are not who I am. I am a daughter of the King. I was purchased with his blood. He sets me free to walk with him and to bear fruit for his glory. Sometimes, that fruit is writing and art. Other times, it’s being there for a friend. It’s being patient and kind and self-controlled.

It’s identity in Christ first, activities second. I get the order wrong all the time, and I will continue to get it wrong. I exchange my identity in Christ for identity in activities. It’s no wonder I feel guilty or anxious; my identity is wrapped in achievement. I can’t rest when I’m responsible for my identity. Rest occurs as I lay down my identity and take on Jesus’.

Activities

Even if I’ve got the order right—identity first, activities second—I still have to take care. Workaholicism is an addiction like any other. I have to put safeguards in place to keep from falling into temptation.

For example, I don’t answer work emails after 5pm. Do I fail to follow the rule? All the time, but I try again. I know better than to reply to emails. If I do, I won’t be able to fall asleep, which means I’ll be worth next to nothing the next day. Side note: sleep is important. Don’t skip it.

I also try to keep to an eight-hour workday. It’s hard because I tend to start work in the wee hours of the morning. I’ve hit the eight-hour mark by 1 or 2pm in the afternoon. I should feel free to go do other things, maybe work on the coloring book, but guilt can gnaw away at me. Other people are working still; I should be, too. Right? Right?

I have to silence that voice. I’m feeling guilty because of identity and approval issues. I don’t want people to think I’m slacking off or taking advantage. Most of the people I work with know that’s not the case because they know me. They know who I am. They know if I’m given a project that I will get it done on time and to the best of my ability. I just lose sight of the fact because I’ve lost sight of who I am. I need to be re-rooted in my identity in Christ so that I can continue to work faithfully rather than anxiously.

Managing work when I’m prone to workaholicism isn’t easy. It requires vigilance, self-control, and a regular checking of my heart. I have to remind myself, over and over again, that it’s identity first, activities second.

Image: Matt Crawford (Creative Commons)