Main Entry: work•a•hol•ic
Pronunciation: \wurk-uh-ˈhaw-lik, -hol-ik\
Function: noun
1 : a person who works compulsively at the expense of other pursuits
Pronunciation: \wurk-uh-ˈhaw-lik, -hol-ik\
Function: noun
1 : a person who works compulsively at the expense of other pursuits
You won’t find workaholism in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. But according to research, Americans work an average of 200 hours more a year than they did in 1970. That’s almost an extra month.
Of course, with those longer hours come fatter paychecks and bigger accolades, both of which society and culture esteem. But what happens when work supersedes other areas of life?
Dr. Bryan Robinson wrote Chained to the Desk: A Guidebook for Workaholics, a manual of sorts for partners, children, and clinicians working with these people. Robinson has a quick quiz you can take for your characters (or yourself!) to determine if they are workaholics.
On a scale from one to five, with five being the most satisfied and one being the least, have your character rate his satisfaction with his family life, friendships, health and hobbies. If his total is fewer than ten points, read on.
