Work, leisure balance promotes good mental health

Last week I began a discussion of the so called workaholic. This is the individual who is married to his or her job. For these individuals, the boundaries between work and non-work related activities have become blurred or is even non-existent. The workaholic has become “hooked” on work and, like any other form of compulsive behavior, this pattern may be difficult to change. Frequently the workaholic has little or no insight into his or her complete immersion into work and the resulting negative effect on family members and friends.

Following are some suggestions and guidelines that may assist the workaholic in changing his or her behavior:

• Use your time, but don’t let it use you. Try to set a regular quitting time each day. Plan something after work to make quitting time appealing.

• Build friendships, not simply acquaintances. Try to build friendships outside of your regular work associates. Seek leisure time conversations and discussions unrelated to your work.

• Learn to say no to new or extra demands on your time. Delegate authority and responsibility to others. Avoid falling into the trap of feeling that only you can do your job correctly.

• Make the motto, “I work to live, not live to work,” a cornerstone of your lifestyle. Evaluate your goals periodically. Back off and look objectively at what’s happening in your life. Many people get so consumed with their work that they “can’t see the forest for the trees.”

• Avoid becoming involved in too many activities that require you to assume a leadership role. Activities that absorb too much time may simply become another job and require more work hours.

• Watch out for situations that start out to be fun and recreational but drift toward competition and awaken perfectionistic tendencies.

• Try to emphasize and concentrate on tasks you like the most. Discard when possible tasks you don’t enjoy. Quit trying to make everything a deadline. Many unfinished tasks stay on the back burner quite well until a later date.

Remember that although work is a necessary and very important part of most people’s lives, it shouldn’t be all of anyone’s life. Establishing a healthy balance between work and leisure time is a sign of maturity and promotes good mental health. Learn to say T.G.I.F. and mean it.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2002