Licking the Razor's Edge (2015)

The CONSEQUENCES of “PRODUCTIVITY”
Even if they do not go to radical extremes, people who overwork still suffer serious
physical and emotional consequences, as well as the debilitating social effects of their
inability to focus on the welfare of others – their inability to deeply Care.
*Busyness causes MENTAL INSTABILITY …
The high levels of stress experienced by people who prioritize their work ahead of most
other facets of their lives inevitably leads to them experiencing some degree of “burnout”
(what used to be called “nervous breakdown”) – a state of mental exhaustion
characterized by intense fatigue, moroseness, irritability, negativity and depression. Such
workaholics also tend to be easily angered or agitated, and often suffer from insomnia,
memory black-outs, and radical mood swings.
“Burnout is nature’s way of telling you that you’ve just been going through the motions;
that your Soul has temporarily checked out – that you’ve become a zombie; a member of
the walking dead; a sleepwalker.” ~ inspired by Sam Keen
*Over-productivity causes UNPRODUCTIVITY …
Ironically, the high stress levels that over-workers endure actually makes them less
productive employees. They might indeed get more done in short bursts than most
“normal folks”, and yet over the course of an entire workweek, workaholics tend to be
less focused, less efficient and prone to making far more mistakes than their more
grounded counterparts.
“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing” ~ Lao Tsu
*Workaholism causes DAMAGED RELATIONSHIPS …
Even if workaholics themselves can avoid the personal consequences for their
overworking, their relationships will always suffer. Sometimes there is intense
resentment felt at home to them placing work ahead of the family, their children often
feel alienated, and their partnerships often end in emotional separation or actual divorce.
Just as tragic, the children of workaholics often either follow in their workaholic parent’s
footsteps and become overbearing workaholics themselves, or they rebel against that
parent and suffer from chronic non-productivity and indolence.
“I used to be a classic workaholic, and after seeing how little work and career really
mean when you reach the end of your life, I put a new emphasis on things I believe count
a lot more. These things include: family, friends, being part of a community.” ~ Mitch
Albom
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