Addicted to work. It can be healthy or unhealthy. What does it depend on? And how can you be a healthy workaholic? Here are a few answers.
It becomes unhealthy when working too much stems from fear: the fear of falling short, failing, not fitting in, not being special enough, failing to provide added value, or risking disapproval. To avoid this—and to gain the opposite, such as appreciation—we often unconsciously deploy certain "power-players" from our ego. When taken to an extreme, these very mechanisms can drive you toward the abyss.
Think of the ego as a bus, where various "ego-passengers" take the wheel. Whenever one of these passengers—or a combination of them—is in control, your thinking, perspective, feelings, choices, and behavior all shift. There are three specific ego-passengers that can push you beyond your healthy limits: the inner Pleaser, the Pusher, or the Perfectionist (the "3 Ps"), or a combination thereof. If you don’t manage them consciously and in moderation, they can easily lead you
Conversely, an addiction to work can also stem from a genuine passion and deep inspiration for what you do. This is a source that fundamentally provides you with more energy; because you are doing what you love, a heavy workload can feel entirely manageable—even if it means working long hours into the evenings or over the weekend. But is this sustainable indefinitely?
No—even passion has its limits. You are not a robot; you are a human being with a finite capacity for endurance and resilience. In my book ‘Spirited Personal Leadership’ I explain how being overly driven by passion can also lead you toward the abyss.
To be a ‘healthy workaholic,’ it is essential to work with a sense of measured passion while simultaneously recognizing—and, crucially, acknowledging—unhealthy physical and mental stress signals, and then dealing with them effectively.
Would you like to learn more about how to look after yourself in both practical and fundamental ways? See: https://martinthoolen.com/en/service/coaching-vitaliteit-duurzame-inzetbaarheid/
Or, if you would like to receive some initial tips on how to manage work pressure or stress in a fundamentally healthy way, take a look here:
SUSTAINABLE REINTEGRATION THROUGH TRANSFORMATION: https://martinthoolen.com/en/duurzame-re-integratie-door-transformatie/
YOUR GOLDEN COMPASS FOR MORE CONTROL IN YOUR WORK AND LIFE: https://martinthoolen.com/en/vindt-hier-je-gouden-kompas-voor-meer-regie/
STAYING VITAL AFTER HOLIDAYS:
https://martinthoolen.com/en/hoe-blijf-je-vitaal-na-je-vakantie/
HOW TO PREVENT BURNOUT AS AN EMPLOYER/MANAGER: https://martinthoolen.com/en/hoe-voorkom-je-als-manager-of-bestuurder-burn-out-in-je-team-of-organisatie/
GAINING QUICKLY MORE TIME? MANAGE YOUR TIME-WASTERS! https://martinthoolen.com/en/snel-veel-meer-tijd-winnen-manage-je-tijdsverslinders/
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
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