"Workaholism is an addiction, and like all addictions, it blocks creative energy" Julia Cameron The Artist's Way."

Are You a Workaholic?

In The Artists Way, Cameron's concern is to help people find time for creative writing. But her advice is useful for anyone who is fighting his or her workaholic tendencies.

"If I had more time, I'd have more fun," we tell ourselves. Or, If I had more time, I'd exercise/paint/write a novel/ or .... (you can fill in what you would do.

Time is an equal opportunity provider. Every one of us, regardless of age, sex, race, or religion, has the same 24 hours a day. How we use those hours determines our life success. On the one hand, we know that working long, hard hours is a characteristic of most successful people. On the other hand, we understand that working that way gives us little pleasure and less time to pay attention to family, friendship, intellectual stimulation, etc. You can be successful in business without sacrificing personal relationships. You can accomplish your major goals in all of life's four most important dimensions:

1. Health
2. Wealth
3. Relationships
4. Career

To do so, you must use a productivity system that enables you to use your time for maximum impact. Achieving any important goal takes time. And at any specific period of time in your life you must establish priorities so you can give primary attention to your top goals. Prioritization is difficult for most people because they get caught up in day to day "busy-ness" which makes you think you have hundreds of priorities. And this is how addiction to work begins. I just need to get this done and then I will have more time - but the time never comes because something else always comes up to keep you really busy.

You must also recognize that the way you work right now may be working against you. The workaholic pattern might help you accomplish your primary goal, but will usually leave your other goals in a shattered heap.

Begin, today, by taking this self-administered quiz by Julia Cameron to help you figure out if you have workaholic habits.
Answer Rarely, Occasionally, Often, or Almost Always to the following:

1. I work outside of office hours.
2. I cancel dates with loved ones to keep up with work.
3. I postpone outings until the deadline is over.
4. I take work with me on vacations.
5. I take work with me on weekends.
6. I take vacations.
7. My partner and friends complain that I am always working.
8. I try to do two things at once.
9. I allow myself free time between projects.
10. I allow myself to achieve closure on tasks.
11. I procrastinate in finishing up the last loose ends on a project.
12. I set out to do one job and start on three more at the same time.
13. I work in the evenings during family time.
14. I allow calls to interrupt -- and lengthen -- my workday.
15. I prioritize my day to include an hour of creative work/play.
16. I place my creative dreams before my work.
17. I fall in with others' plans and fill my free time with their agendas.
18. I allow myself down time to do nothing.
19. I use the word "deadline" to describe and rationalize my workload.
20. When going somewhere, even to dinner, I take my Blackberry and keep it on.

Look back over your answers. What do your responses tell you about your life right now?

There is a big difference between zestful work toward a cherished goal and workaholism, says Cameron. That difference is mostly about the emotional connection (even dependence) rather than just the number of hours you work. There is a mouse on a flywheel sense to workaholism. You run as fast as you can but you don't seem to get anywhere, yet you cannot seem to get off either. You depend on your work for income and status, and you resent it. You feel trapped by your work. For a workaholic, work is synonymous with self-worth, which makes you very reluctant to make any significant changes.

You are not your job title.

Find the courage to break your addiction and create time for your whole life not just your work life!

Related Articles:

How to avoid Job Burnout.

Time management Skills.

Links you should visit

1) The artist's way - discover your creative side.

2) Time Management Central.net time management videos to inspire you to use your time wisely.