The Dangers of Overwork
“I understood that our efforts, no matter how great, are not pleasing to God if they do not bear the seal of obedience” (St. Maria Faustina Kowalska).
We can truly become lost in our work the minute we take a turn from the obedience of living out God’s Word. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen emphasized this idea when he said, “If you don't behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave.” In fact, you will fall for anything, including your masterfully created prison of self-worth. This is an important matter to grasp, if we hope to avoid the eternal ramifications of our actions.
In her forthcoming book Never Not Working, psychologist Malissa Clark confesses that she used to live off the adrenaline of “overwork.” She writes that future generations will only be familiar with constant connection and on-demand service, which she sees as the hallmarks of the #workmartyr culture in our society. This hashtag is not an exaggeration; the workplace is the fifth-leading cause to the rising death toll in America. In her book, Clark shows just how misinformed we are about how insidious workaholism can be.
I Choose Death, by Work
While it is honorable to find a career we can cherish God in (allowing us to work in deep devotion), we should always be cautious in how we bear fruit. Yes, we should never shrink away from hard work, but at the same time, we should never allow our occupation to take dominion over us. Clark carefully explains that there is a difference between working hard and being a workaholic.
One of the culturally accepted myths about overwork that Clark disproves is that there are “good types” of workaholics: “The truth is any benefits of loving your work are essentially washed out by your work compulsion.” She discovered through her research that even the most excited workaholics encounter unforeseeable and unfortunate payoffs over time.
The devil clearly works in the details, and he can inflame this desire to work mercilessly. In such darkness, we become robbed of any meaningful joy. If we allow what we love to slowly become a doorway to obsession, we begin to exchange our gifts for gripping temptation.
Clark calls readers to recognize the repercussions of workaholism as she shares how its negative effects can worm their way into close-knit relationships. Colleagues, friends, spouses, and children all become collateral damage.
Rooting out this issue is sometimes only possible through serious interventions. Some of us are not fortunate enough to receive insight directly from friends or family, but if we are, do we heed their caution? Behind this cunning entity, others may be ditched to the wayside or left helpless during after hours. Clark hints that the people affected by someone’s workaholism will have to shoulder more than their fair share of responsibilities, whether at home in a workaholic’s absence or in the workplace under their heavy demands.
Unveiling the Unspoken
Some CEOs believe that rigorous work hours lead to success, but this belief can actually create poor working standards. Leaders must look to feedback from employees to identify whether workaholism exists within their company, especially to help mitigate long-term consequences. Clark documents how expensive the oversight of workaholism can be, costing up to $300 billion each year. Overworking employees can quickly put a business at risk of high turnovers and chronic absenteeism. This type of culture communicates that employees’ work will never be good enough—a message amplified with the lack of respite for recovery.
In Never Not Working, it also becomes clear that HR leaders can send mixed signals by talking about the importance of well-being while consciously (or unconsciously) incentivizing overwork. Clark warns readers that it’s easy to misconstrue busyness for productivity. Behind the scenes, employees could assume more counterproductive work in order to feed their workaholism rather than to be efficient.
As Clark points out, this overwhelming desire to work can be so unshakable that even one heart attack is not enough to convince a workaholic to change their ways. In an interview with a clinical psychologist, she learns that workaholism is so pervasive that a large number of the population could be diagnosed with it, which the interviewee says could be why the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) hasn’t acknowledged it as a clinical condition. Without a formal diagnosis, Clark believes, the issue is deemed socially acceptable—or, as she says, “a respected addiction.”
Dethroning the Workaholic
Throughout each chapter, Clark poses probing questions to help readers assess whether they might be prone to this sort of craze. She offers mental relief and self-reflections as well as ways to guard against natural defense mechanisms.
After reading Never Not Working, I recalled how I used to feel entitled about needing to accomplish most tasks in one stretch. I had an aversion to seeing that long checklist the next day and feeling like a task was dragging through my work week, ruining my sense of accomplishment. There is satisfaction in removing a huge task off your to-do list, but if we do not address our workaholism, this process will repeat itself much more quickly, tempting us to do even more work the second we clear out more time.
Clark describes feelings like racing of the mind, jittery uneasiness, or a knot in the stomach. It's like constantly needing to bend a knee to your ever-reigning workaholism. Breaking yourself from this self-tyranny does not mean you will always feel great. However, surrendering the depths of your soul completely to God is the first step to conquering these inner demons. It can require steadfast supplication, especially if you have abused many of God’s graces in your work-life habits.
When we finally begin to purge ourselves of our workaholism, it can be also important to reframe our mindset and change our environment. Clark shares tips for workaholics like correcting their line of thinking and keeping themselves from performing work-related activities at home.
But Where Does Your Trust Lie?
In the words of St. Alphonsus Liguori, “He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.” You may find that you revert back to your harmful workaholic routine. Clark points out that unavoidable outside pressures can lead us back to overwork, even more than we did before. Some people start to feel there is no other way to keep up in their industry, but this outlook does not always lead to gains. As disciples, if we constantly seek the upper hand to conquer all our goals, do we truly believe God is able?
Overworking can indicate a lack of trust in the silent owner of your business. When God is at our side, it’s easier to bypass unwarranted stress—opting instead for prayer and a more moderate share of work. Remember, God will enrich our efforts in His own time, and only He can open doors of blessed opportunity. No man, event, or even time can stop what God has in plan. You can work yourself into the ground, and He may still choose to close all doors but one. How can you be sensitive to the Holy Spirit if you are always immersed in your own zealous undertakings?
Overwork is tied to ourselves—our needs, worries, concerns, and self-preservation. We put all our trust in our simple fragile human capabilities. Our dreams end at our own self-interest or sense of achievement—never mind God and the people we are called to serve and love. This situation can quietly breed all types of sins—pride and greed to start with. It’s a slippery slope that can push us into adopting underhanded methods for business. Sooner or later, our mantra will become, “Anything to save a sinking ship.”
On the other hand, disciples know that they must build their treasure in Heaven rather than on earth, where possessions are at risk of theft or future decay (Matthew 6:19-21). They do not so easily fall prey to their earthly achievements or see them as the be-all and end-all. They recognize them for their resemblance to dust and work to avoid any opportunity for the devil to secretly operate in their decision-making.
With God at the helm, things may not seem promising or even clear, but He will no doubt catch our fall, as long as we are obedient to His will.
Final Remarks
Never Not Working is insightful, written in a logical yet compassionate tone, as though Clark is talking to her closest friend. Her humor transforms her book into a tragicomedy. She presents solid research and scenarios that give readers a glimpse into people’s lives to see how workaholism manifests itself, even without their noticing.
Readers may feel compelled to drop the book to reevaluate their relationship with work or point out red flags to a loved one. That’s what this book is really about—not just bringing awareness but spurring us into action.
I could not agree more with the author that the timing of this book is perfect, in a post-pandemic era in which many people have blurred the lines between personal and work-related activities. The time for deep discussion is now, before the traditional concept of rest becomes extinct. It starts with the individual. Let us part with the words of St. Thérèse of Lisieux:
“Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.”
Berthe Emmanuella Antoine is an interior designer who sees no distinction between her work life and devotion to God. She fine tunes others on how to create beautiful habitations in Christ from their domestic surroundings to the innermost parts of their being. Her rule of life has led her to launch INTERIOREM VITAM, a Catholic decor blog and boutique with a sleek and classic aesthetic. She is forever whisked away into the intricacies of hidden devotions and the silence of the interior life. She hopes to build a fruitful community around the brand’s mobile app. Feel free to join and start a conversation with your comments.