For one journalist, a word from an audiobook on the tube was enough to jolt her back into reality - the word "workaholism". She had heard it before, but this time it hit home in a way that made her question whether she too might be addicted to work.
The journalist's pregnancy wasn't easy. After coming off set on Sky News, she bled heavily at nine weeks and was told everything looked fine, only for the 12-week screening to reveal a one-in-two chance of her baby being born with Down's syndrome. The routine check-up revealed that her baby didn't have Down's or any other chromosomal abnormality, but she still had to go to Great Ormond Street hospital to have his heart checked. By 19 weeks, her pregnancy was officially declared normal.
However, things took a turn for the worse when the journalist woke up early one morning and knew something was wrong - a searing pain radiating from her right side that left her breathless but wasn't the dull ache of childbirth. She was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery, only to be told she had a blood clot.
The experience made the journalist realize how much work had taken over her life. Even now, in retirement, she works way too many hours a week because "I just love it".
But not everyone views work addiction as a negative thing. One academic researcher, Mark Griffiths, describes his own relationship with work as "a life-affirming passion". He worked solidly for two and a half months while recovering from spinal surgery, giving lectures to his students from his hospital bed.
Griffiths draws a distinction between work addiction and healthy enthusiasm. While enthusiasm can add to one's life, addiction takes away from it. For someone like him, who has always loved work and had it bring joy and fulfillment, there is no conflict in their life as a result of working hard.
Yet, even Griffiths acknowledges that abuse doesn't necessarily mean addiction. Abuse may be episodic, but addiction is about losing control over one's behavior.
The journalist still grapples with the idea of whether she might be addicted to work, and whether it has harmed her in ways she hasn't yet realized. But for now, she feels comfortable in the present, knowing that her work brings her joy and fulfillment without taking away from other aspects of her life.
The journalist's pregnancy wasn't easy. After coming off set on Sky News, she bled heavily at nine weeks and was told everything looked fine, only for the 12-week screening to reveal a one-in-two chance of her baby being born with Down's syndrome. The routine check-up revealed that her baby didn't have Down's or any other chromosomal abnormality, but she still had to go to Great Ormond Street hospital to have his heart checked. By 19 weeks, her pregnancy was officially declared normal.
However, things took a turn for the worse when the journalist woke up early one morning and knew something was wrong - a searing pain radiating from her right side that left her breathless but wasn't the dull ache of childbirth. She was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery, only to be told she had a blood clot.
The experience made the journalist realize how much work had taken over her life. Even now, in retirement, she works way too many hours a week because "I just love it".
But not everyone views work addiction as a negative thing. One academic researcher, Mark Griffiths, describes his own relationship with work as "a life-affirming passion". He worked solidly for two and a half months while recovering from spinal surgery, giving lectures to his students from his hospital bed.
Griffiths draws a distinction between work addiction and healthy enthusiasm. While enthusiasm can add to one's life, addiction takes away from it. For someone like him, who has always loved work and had it bring joy and fulfillment, there is no conflict in their life as a result of working hard.
Yet, even Griffiths acknowledges that abuse doesn't necessarily mean addiction. Abuse may be episodic, but addiction is about losing control over one's behavior.
The journalist still grapples with the idea of whether she might be addicted to work, and whether it has harmed her in ways she hasn't yet realized. But for now, she feels comfortable in the present, knowing that her work brings her joy and fulfillment without taking away from other aspects of her life.
! I mean, I'm a total tech geek myself and I know how all-consuming it can be 
. But for someone who's literally living with the possibility of their kid having Down syndrome (ouch!) and then has to deal with a blood clot... that's just crazy 
. And yeah, Mark Griffiths' point about distinction between enthusiasm and addiction is spot on 
. I mean, I get it, some people love work and it brings them joy (hello, coding all day! 
), but for others, it can be a real burnout 
. The journalist seems to be coming from a good place tho, trying not to let her job define her life. We should all take a cue from that 
.
I feel so sorry for this journalist, she was through so much during pregnancy and still had to deal with a blood clot. It's crazy how it made her question her work habits - like, is it healthy or just an addiction? 
I mean, on one hand, I get why someone would be passionate about their job like Mark Griffiths is, but on the other hand, some people might need to find that balance in life. Like, if you're working 80 hours a week and still having time for loved ones, is that really healthy? 
For me, I think it's all about finding that sweet spot where work and life are happy to coexist 
. I mean, I get it, she loves her job, but is it too much to ask for a little work-life balance? 
. And then you got Mark Griffiths, who's like the ultimate workaholic, sayin he's not addicted, just passionate about what he does 
. But let's be real, passion can be a euphemism for obsession 
.
. But at the same time, if working hard gives you joy and fulfillment, what's wrong with that? It's like the whole debate around social welfare programs - do they help people who need it, or just create a culture of dependency? I guess what I'm saying is, we gotta be careful not to over-regulate our own lives and expect everyone else to follow suit 
.
... maybe that's a balance I can strive for too?
. But if work starts controlling your life and impacting other areas of your life, then maybe there's an issue 
. Either way, I think it's essential to be mindful of how much work we're putting into our lives and make sure we're not sacrificing too much in the process 
#SelfCare #Priorities
It's all about finding that balance and being aware of when we're crossing into unhealthy territory. But honestly, if work is something that makes you feel alive and happy, why fix what ain't broke, right? 
. For me, if u cant separate ur love for work from ur personal life, thats when u got a problem.
but at the same time, i can relate to how work can take over ur life especially when u love it as much as she does 
mark griffiths makes some great points tho about not all work addiction being bad news... like, if u enjoy it & it's not impacting other areas of ur life, then why not? 
This got me thinking about the importance of self-awareness. We need to be honest with ourselves about how our habits are affecting our lives. Is she working too much because she genuinely loves her job or because she's afraid to let go? 
I feel like this journalist is being super realistic about how much work can take over your life. I mean, I'm guilty of it too - I'll be scrolling through my feeds for hours on end, completely forgetting what day it is or what time it is... 
. And what's with all these 'life-affirming passion' folks? Just sayin', it's all about balance, you know? Can't have work takin' over your life like it did this journalist... 
! I get it, passion for work is a good thing, but some ppl need to learn to slow down & prioritize self-care 
. Like, Mark Griffiths' take on "work addiction" vs "healthy enthusiasm" makes total sense, but what about the people who just can't seem to stop? It's all about balance, innit? 
It's all about finding that sweet spot where work doesn't consume your life but still makes a huge impact. Can't we all learn from the journalist and Griffiths to prioritize our well-being while pursuing our passions? 
... but at the same time, isn't it kinda crazy how some people have work as their life or something? Like, they're not even making time for themselves or anything... 
. Just because we love our work (or in this case, our passion) doesn't mean it takes priority over family time 
... too many parents I know have been guilty of putting their career first and missing out on precious moments with their little ones 
. But at the same time, if working hard brings you joy and fulfillment, why not? It's all about finding that sweet spot where work doesn't encroach on your personal life 
... for me, it means setting clear boundaries and prioritizing family time, but also recognizing when I can take a break and enjoy my own passion projects 
... like, yes, it can be! I've seen friends burn out from working too much 
and still feel guilty about taking time off to recharge 
. As someone who's passionate about platforms (lol