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Here at KCL, we like to appreciate the weird and wonderful, including fun themed holidays. This one, however, is probably slightly less of a fun-packed thrill. Why, may you ask? Well because today is national workaholics day. Ermmmm…woohoooo?
This unofficial holiday was created to raise awareness about overworking, and the fact that too much work and too little play can have negative impacts on mental physical health. So instead of celebrating this lifestyle, it’s more of a focus on encouraging workaholics to make lifestyle changes in order to give other aspects of their lives as much attention. Having a healthy work/life balance is important, and with the majority of us working from home in this Covid-era, it can be hard to separate the two worlds.
With 60% if employees working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, 77% of remote workers in the UK have said they’re more productive when working from home, with many hoping to continue this new way of life post-pandemic. But it’s important to draw a line when doing this. Many of us are getting carried away and taking laptops to bed with us, typing till the early hours, or taking on more work than possible. This can have a negative impact on those around you, as family and friends may not feel their having quality time with you.
So, on this holiday, why not take some time out to look out for the workaholic in your life and ask them to join you in a fun activity? Maybe you’re the one guilty of spending a little too much time in the office, so take yourself out for a walk or phone a friend and just check in on yourself. It’s important to remember to look after our mental wellbeing, especially after the chaos of the last year, so there’s no shame in taking a little time out.
Some ideas for today:
· If there is a workaholic in your life, ask them to take the day off and take them out to do something fun. Perhaps a trip to a theme park or a hike?
· Make a nice meal for the workaholic in your life and tell them about the problems associated with working all the time.
· If you are a workaholic, take the day off to revaluate your life and take some time off for yourself.