How to Recognize Working Joyfully vs Working Compulsively

Remember the brochure I talked about not too long ago – Turning Work Into Play? Here’s a fun list that shows some key differences in gleaning joy from work versus it being a draining chore that saps the life out of ya.

If we could see ourselves when we are deep into workaholism – furrowed brow, clenched jaw, tense shoulders, perhaps sitting on the edge of our chair – we would immediately recognize that work addiction is unhealthy. But we are not familiar with what it would be like to work in a healthful manner. We need a model of working joyfully. This happens when we maintain our spiritual fitness.

Here is a list of how to recognize working compulsively versus working joyfully.

Working Compulsively           vs.        Working Joyfully
Very long hours                                  Setting boundaries

Impossible standards                          Reasonable goals

Insatiable, never done                         Content with day’s work

Tightly scheduled                               Room for the unexpected

Adding more work                             No adding without subtracting

Unable to estimate time                      Realistic time allotment

Non-stop                                             Pausing for change of pace, focus, new ideas

False deadlines                                    Appropriate timing

Driven, adrenalized                             Feeling of being in flow

Sense of urgency                                 Relaxed about time

Must complete work                           Can delay task

Confusing urgency with importance   Able to prioritize

Reacting to pressure                            Following inner guidance

Mentally scattered                              Focused

Inefficient                                           Effective

Mistakes: misplace, drop, spill            Doing it right the first time

Rigid                                                   Flexible

Intolerant of new ideas                       Open-minded

Impatient                                             Calm

Perfectionistic                                     Learns from mistakes without blaming

Tense                                                   Relaxed

Loss of humor                                     Keeps a humorous perspective

Loss of creativity                                Flow of novel solutions

Overly serious and intense                  Able to be playful

Not enjoyable                                      Finds work pleasurable

Abrupt with colleagues                       Responsive to others

Loss of spontaneity                             Open to the moment

Out of touch with feelings                  Aware of moods

Doing many things at once                 Doing one thing at a time

Body/mind out of sync                       Unity of thought and action

Rushing                                               Leisurely paced

Jerky movements                                Steady rhythm

Blurred perception                              Vivid impressions

Unaware, mechanical                          Mindful

Quantity-oriented (more is better)      Quality-oriented

Little delegation                                  Trust in colleagues

Racing the clock                                 In sync and respectful of time

Exhaustion                                          Happy tiredness

Struggle                                               Feeling of ease

Feeling of being a victim                    Feeling completed

Neglecting health                                Nurturing self

Can’t hear body signals                      Knows when to rest

Neglecting rest of life                         Balanced life

Worry, over planning                          Staying in the now

Get it?