Oct 7, 2026 · 29 min
Workaholism turns overwork into a health risk
Are you a workaholic or just a hard worker? With Malissa Clark, PhD
The episode separates dedication from compulsive overwork and examines how people and workplaces can restore boundaries before health and relationships suffer.
- 1Workaholism reflects a compulsive psychological need to work, not simply long hours or professional dedication.
- 2Perfectionism, workplace rewards, cultural norms, and technology can make constant availability feel necessary and difficult to escape.
- 3Recovery requires intentional boundaries from individuals and organizational changes that stop praising after-hours availability.
Don't miss
Clark reframes recovery as intentional experimentation, including evening mastery experiences that may improve next-day work functioning.
The brief
Malissa A. Clark draws the crucial line between working hard and workaholism: the problem is a compulsive psychological need to work, even when it damages health, sleep, relationships, and well-being.
The episode traces overwork to perfectionism, self-justifying beliefs, demanding workplace cultures, and technology that keeps work within reach long after the workday ends.
Clark explains that workaholism affects more than the worker, reaching family members and other people who absorb the consequences of constant availability and emotional disengagement.
The conversation shifts from diagnosis to responsibility: employers can change what leaders reward, while individuals can schedule recovery, test new boundaries, and seek support through Workaholics Anonymous.
The standout idea is that recovery is not passive rest but deliberate experimentation, including evening activities that may help people detach from work and function better the next day.
Books & mentions
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