Work Ethic

Do athletic trainers wear a badge of good work ethic... or is it more in terms of a workaholic?

The hustle and sacrifice that we proudly wear as we go into the athletic season of not seeing our families and friends for weeks on end.

Some of us do it for the pay, while others do it for the recognition. And a few of us just might be doing it because we feel like we’re obligated…to…do…it.

Work is essential for our well-being and integral to our identity, but what is the difference between having a good work ethic and being a workaholic?

Here are some guidelines to help scrutinize the difference between a good work ethic and a workaholic:

A Workaholic:

Hedges on personal values to accommodate work demands.

Feels like if they don't do their work, there will be a catastrophe. (In psychology terms: "compulsion.")

Typically is motivated only by the urgency of work, not necessarily the importance of work.

Doesn't take breaks or allow for recovery time.

Often deals with great anxiety.

Doesn't say "no" to new work and treats most tasks as priorities or fails to delegate effectively. (This is sometimes tied to perfectionism.)

Is unlikely to cancel due to illness.

Doesn't "turn it off."

Competes with others on how many hours they've worked.

Ties their work success with their personal worth.

Is focused on output quantity and tasks completed.

Always making themselves available to coworkers to create the feeling that they are always needed.

Working brings a great deal of comfort, feeling uneasy or even guilty when not working.

Workaholics have a hard time separating business from pleasure.

Good Work Ethic:

Makes the most of the time available.

Says "no" to non-essential or low-impact work.

Says "no" to work outside their capacity or ability.

Is willing to change their work based on feedback because improvement is paramount.

Can provide quality work consistently because work-in-progress is managed effectively.

Makes time for fun and personal enjoyment and isn't afraid to "turn off."

Tend to be high-performers and is passionate about work.

Competes with their own work and achievements.

Actively manages burnout symptoms.

Is focused on quality and output value.

Ask yourself, “Am I more than just a hard worker?”

Reference

https://chrisdanilo.com/thoughts/2020/05/12/the-difference-between-a-good-work-ethic-an#:~:text=Don%27t%20misunderstand%20the%20difference%20between%20a%20good%20work%20ethic%20and