Watch Out for Workaholism

03/05/07

Parkinson was absolutely right: Work expands to fill the time you give it, so it may seem like you’re doing something important and getting more done when you spend long hours on the job.

You’re probably not.

First, let’s make a quick distinction: full-blown workaholics have an un-healthy obsession with work. If this sounds like you, get professional help.

But the workplace is filled with garden-variety work-aholics who simply spend too much time working and too little time planning.

“Plan?” they say. “Why do that? I’m here all the time anyway. Whatever it is, it’ll get done.” Or, “Think ahead? Why? I know what I have to do.”

Non-planners make great workaholics because they don’t prioritize their duties. So they either try to do them all at the same time, or they put great energy and concentration into minor activities like scheduling the use of the company treadmill.

Some of you are no doubt thinking, “I have to work sixty-five hours a week here just to stay ahead. Be-sides, everyone else does it, too.” Ah, the big culprit: Peer pressure, usually inspired by a senior workaholic.

If you want to be like everyone else at your workaholic company, tired and unhappy, go ahead.

But the truth is, for all but a chosen few who arrived in the world wired with high-voltage systems, your ability to work deteriorates after a certain number of hours. (Ten is about maximum.) After that, you’re doing neither yourself nor your company any good.

To get the most out of your day—and allow time for leisure or family activities that recharge your batteries and refresh your thinking—schedule your time.

Working from a prioritized to-do list, schedule just 60 to 70 percent of your day. (The other 30 percent is for un-foreseen events and interruptions.)

If you do this consistently, don’t be surprised when your productivity exceeds that of the workaholics in your company. Your boss will notice, too.

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