There are a number of challenges that are waiting to confront you when you get married – challenges that you weren’t likely expecting. When you marry a workaholic, you may find yourself becoming a widow or widower to your spouse’s job and responsibilities. In a society where laziness seems to be the catch phrase, a workaholic can’t be that bad can they?
Speaking From Experience
Let me speak from experience here and stand up and admit it, my name is Heather Long and I’m a workaholic. I get so caught up in my work sometimes that I get up early to do it, I stay up late to do it and I have been known upon occasion to forgo ‘fun’ in favor of working. In fact, one of the only things able to break into one of my workaholic hazes is if my daughter needs me or wants me to take a break to come and play and do things.
It’s not always great being a workaholic, it seems like it’s good because you get a reputation for being dedicated and dependable. In fact, somewhere on my tombstone it will say: Here Lies Heather, She Was Always Reliable. The idea of always being reliable doesn’t exactly have teeth, but I’m digressing. Let’s get back on the topic of being a workaholic.
Your Spouse Will Not Always Appreciate Your Workaholic Tendencies
Your spouse and your children are the ones most likely to suffer if you’re a workaholic. So it’s important to keep some things in mind if you are a workaholic – and yes, I mean write these down and post them near where your computer or wherever else it is you do most of your work:
- Take a break and let your family know you love them, you need to make sure you keep a block of time available for them every day
- Schedule your work and no matter how hard it is, there are days when your work needs to stay at work
- Working from home? Set up your work space away from the family and behind a door that you can close when you leave so that you are ‘out of the office’ and remember, when you’re not in your office, close that door
- Don’t take your work out to dinner or playtime with your family; it’s hard, but your family and your spouse will appreciate you for it
No matter how much you try to justify your work schedule to yourself or anyone else, working to the exclusion of everyone else you know and love – is not for them. Money is great. Money pays bills. Financial gain is not worth sacrificing your family or marriage relationships.
Are you a workaholic?
Related Articles:
How To Know If You’re A Workaholic
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Marriage Communication: Talking Tips