Workaholism

A compulsive overinvestment in work — beyond what the job requires or rewards — that crowds out health, relationships, and recovery.

Why this habit matters

  • Relationships: Chronic overwork is consistently associated with marital dissatisfaction, lower partner well-being, and reduced quality of contact with children; partners and children of workaholics often feel chronically deprioritized.
  • Mental_health: Workaholism is strongly correlated with burnout, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders; long-term, the very work it sustains begins to suffer as quality, creativity, and judgment degrade.
  • Physical_health: The 2021 WHO/ILO joint analysis estimated that working 55+ hours per week is associated with substantially elevated risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease compared to standard hours.

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