When Workaholism Becomes a Escape: How Work Turns into a Shelter from Life We are accustomed to considering workaholism as an excessive love for work, a passion for the cause, or simply a high level of responsibility. But often, behind this beautiful picture, there is a completely different story. A person does not work because they are passionate about an idea, but because they are afraid to be alone with themselves. They do not strive for success — they run away from questions they are not ready to answer. Workaholism becomes a convenient shield behind which one can hide from life's tasks requiring courage, time, and honesty. In this case, work is not a calling, but anesthesia. What Life Tasks Do We Put Off by Overloading Ourselves with Work The list of these tasks varies from person to person, but there are common themes that are often forgotten in the endless race against deadlines. The first is relationships. When work fills all the space, we do not have time for a partner, children, friends. We do not resolve conflicts, discuss grievances, or make plans. We simply exist side by side, but not together. Relationships require presence, and the workaholic physically is at work, but emotionally — absent everywhere. The second is health. We put off visits to the doctor, ignore the signals of our bodies, and attribute fatigue to "the busy season." We do not solve problems with sleep, weight, or blood pressure because "there is no time." But in reality — there is no courage. The fear of knowing the truth is stronger than the fear of overworking. The third is personal development outside of one's profession. Many people immersed in work stop learning new things, trying hobbies, or traveling. Their world narrows down to the office, and this is frightening, but they are not ready to admit it to themselves. The fourth is self-identity. Work gives us a ready-made identity: "I am a manager," "I am an engineer," "I am a doctor." But the question "who am I outside of ... Read more