The Workaholic’s Dilemma: Finding Balance in a Busy World

Are you a workaholic? I never thought I was, then I read the book  “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. It’s a book about how overcommitting destroys our contentment, concentration, relationships, and health. In the book, the author defines workaholic or “workaholism” as: 

“You just don’t know when to stop. Or worse, you can’t stop. Another hour, another day, another week. Your drugs of choice are accomplishment and accumulation. These could show up as careerism or just as obsessive house cleaning and errand running. Result: you fall prey to sunset fatigue, where by day’s end you have nothing left to give your spouse, children or loved ones.” 

Um, hello? Did he write this about me? I’ve had sunset fatigue since I was 15! 

My need for nonstop activity began after my brother died. If I slowed down, grief would rear its ugly head. What started as a coping mechanism turned into a lifestyle: cleaning, organizing, projects, a never ending to-do list. Always searching for the next accomplishment. 

Every time I crossed something off my to-do list, I would get a hit of dopamine. Like any drug of choice, I built up tolerance, resulting in the need to do more to feel the same dopamine rush. Creating an addictive cycle focused on wanting accomplishment more than actually liking the accomplishment. Once I got what I was striving for, I didn’t care; I was already onto the next thing. Never reaching the goal, because it's alway changing. 

Minimalism has helped me address the accumulation part of my “drugs of choice,” but I’ve been missing the other drug: accomplishments. Reading “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” was the reminder I needed of how minimalism applies not only to reducing my possessions but also my to-do list. 

The Bible provides the solution for this compulsion to work through the story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary sits and listens to Jesus, while Martha is busy serving, doing dishes, and cleaning. Martha is upset that her sister, Mary, is not helping her. 

“The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.’” - Luke 10:41-42

We are bombarded by messages everyday that we need to do more and fill our schedule with activities to “get ahead”. But, what if we slowed down and did the one thing that Jesus tells us to do: spend time with Him? How would our lives change?  How would our relationships improve when we show up attentive instead of exhausted?

In a world that glorifies busyness and achievement, be rebellious; slow down.  Reading “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” opened my eyes to a new definition of workaholic. This lifestyle that started as a coping mechanism, turned into an addiction for accomplishments that left me burnt out. But there is hope! The solution is found in spending time with Jesus and minimizing our to-do lists.  Focusing on being present instead of being productive.