Every person in life has things that are the most important for him: home, family, career. Probably any person dreams to find the applicability in this world and to realize it. Work is an integral part of life. It should bring not only profit, but also pleasure. Having money gives one a feeling of independence and confidence. Certainly, such people are respected and praised in society. But, unfortunately, everything has two sides. And instead of making a person happy, the life of a workaholic may be one of torment. The person who is totally addicted to work is called workaholic.
Being a workaholic doesn't mean that a person loves his kind of work. The main characteristic of such people is the feeling that no one else is capable to do that work but them. Workaholics are met not only in the sphere of business, but also in sports, art, and music and so on.
Workaholic isn't the description of an energetic person who loves his job and thus spends many hours devoted to it out of passion. An energetic, fulfilled individual knows how to rest, gets pleasure from other activities and successfully copes with the role of a family man.
A workaholic on the other hand, is one who job has eclipsed other spheres of life - specifically their relations with co-workers and family members. Usually it is connected with the lack of time forwarded on hobbies, friends and simply leisure. And this in turn leads to others problems like divorce, troubles with family members and others. In general, the workaholics problems stem from self-induced worry regarding job security and earning a living.
Another one of the workaholics problems is that these people always feel like something is not completed, they won't be able to get some sleep, till they make some tasks before that. You may say that it is not a big problem. But there is something more, something that deserves everyone's attention. Maybe some of you have already heard a Japanese word "karoshi" meaning "death from overworking"
The word Japanese karoshi has become a symbol of a workaholic society in Japan. But the usage of this word can also be met in advanced countries. Among various occupations there are three main areas which have the highest risk of Japanese karochi. They are: journalists, drivers and machinery workers. However, the cases of Japanese karoshi also occur among teachers, managers and migrant workers.
This kind of death does not make any difference between men and women, top workers or those on the lower rungs of the ladder. The Japanese culture is often represented as the most hardworking. But this is also their trouble. Every year Japanese workers die from overworking. There are no obvious symptoms of illness. It is very hard to prove a death from overworking. But in case where it can be proven, the family can get compensation from the company he was working to for treating wrongly the employee.
The symptoms might be invisible but the reasons are very clear: 12-14 hours of work every day without rest, weak health, stresses and so on. Only last year there were estimated 143 cases of karoshi. So, as we can see the problem is much more dangerous than it can seem for the first time. Take a closer look at the people that surround you, and also take a look at yourself. Is the job you're doing really that important? More important than proper diet and rest? Think about it.