Are You Too Driven?

Are you constantly working harder and faster, and putting in longer hours? Do you spend almost all of your time thinking about, or doing some form of work? The classic 'workaholic' even when not at work is dogged by thoughts and worries about their responsibilities. They become hyper-stimulated and find it very difficult to wind down or switch off. They find it almost impossible to relax, to feel free - they can't seem to stop.The driven personality is often known as a Type A Personality. They experience more stress than others and are more susceptible to health problems - you have 40% more chance of a heart attack if you demonstrate extreme Type A behaviour, as follows:
Competitive
Ambitious
Aggressive or hostile
Fast walking, talking, speaking
Finishes others' sentences
Does too many things at once
But you can learn to modify this behaviour if you decide to. If you are working long hours - who is making you? Or are you choosing to? For many obsessive workaholics their sense of identity depends far too much on their professional role, and if they are less than outstanding, then they are 'worthless'. One stressed and unhappy client told me "I don't know who I am outside of my work any more". Her work/life balance desperately needed redressing.Why not take a leaf out of the Type B's book? Take a more relaxed, more laid back, less urgent and more balanced approach to life. This type experiences less conflict with others and is able to work at a more constant pace. You might expect the Type A to be the more successful, but there is no appreciable difference between the two in this regard. There are several possible explanations for this. Type A's may alienate others because of their drive and may miss out on important learning opportunities in their quest to get ahead. The Type B on the other hand, might have a reputation for better 'people' skills and may learn a wider array of skills. In reality we all have characteristics of both types, but we do tend towards one or the other. However it isn't set in stone - we can always choose to change our behaviour.Becoming less driven means taking more time for yourself. Make sure you have a lunch break, perhaps go for a walk, you'll feel more relaxed and more energised if you do. Don't work late or take work home as a regular thing - every now and again is fine, but not as a rule. Long working hours does not equate to high performance. If your job requires you to work from home, confine it to one room, preferably one you can shut the door on and walk away from.Just a word of caution - if you are spending too much time at work instead of at home with your family, perhaps there's a reason you're avoiding going home. Be honest with yourself. If that's the case perhaps you should urgently turn your attention to your home life in an effort to sort things out before it's too late.And make it a rule not to work late into the evening otherwise your sleep will be affected. You really do need time to relax and have some fun - to recharge your batteries. People like me see too many clients suffering from 'burn out' - where their batteries are not just low, but flat. When that happens it tends to take some time to recover. Your health and wellbeing must be your top priority.An extract from 'Overcoming Perfectionism' by Jenny Gould, available at http://www.bookboon.com