Are you a workaholic and what to do about it

A couple friends on Twitter linked to Dennis McCafferty's CIO Insight slideshow (annoying) with 10 Clues That You're a Workaholic which came from consultation with doctor of psychiatry David Krueger.  The piece also provides four suggestions on ways to get out.

I grew up living with a self-admitted workaholic in the days before the internet and mobile phones.  He just spent long hours at the office.  I also know that it's a propensity that I have myself - it's almost easier when my work is 90% at the client location, and I don't have any other specific responsibilities outside of the engagement.  So it is nice to see this kind of topic come up from time to time. 

So what is a workaholic?  (Rather than repeating the slideshow, I will summarize some of the points.) 

• Can't think of yourself as anything other than what you do. 
• Work never goes away or out of mind.  It's difficult to put away the phone / email.
• Life revolves around work with fun and family taking back seats.  Even in social situations, work is always on your mind.
• Wikipedia has a brief entry on the topic, of course.

And how to recover or change? 

• Do what you love, rather than what you have to do. 
• Realize that work is only one component of many, many things that happen in life.
• Find other things to do outside of work to bring satisfaction and fulfillment.
• Stop checking email / phone / messages all the time.  (Had to be said!)

[Photo: "Work // Fun" by Luis Eduardo Zamorano Saavedra]