Why is it that work when added with -aholic is the newest rehab inducing epidemic amongst our generation and up? I remember (well, I was too young for it) when single income homes thrived and not because the person who brought home the bacon worked 20 hours out of the 24 hours that consists in a day. What happened to that? Is the epidemic (some may consider it a pandemic) something that is a reflection of lost values?

I honestly can't answer those questions I poised. I can only give you a glimpse into my little microcosm. I am a middle school special education teacher serving the underprivileged youth in the inner most parts of Los Angeles. I work about 2-3 hours past the time the bell has rung for the students to flee home. On a very good day, I leave at 5 pm. On normal days, I leave around 6 pm- and this is only because the boss above us had told us we HAVE to leave by that time, less we alert the alarm system to our presence sending a slew of security to find us. But when I go home, I don't go home and sit in front of the tube, nor do I read or anything semi-relaxing. I go home and finish the work that I could not finish at school. Please don't scoff at me and think, "Well, you get your summers off and winters." I do, but it's not vacation, it's my version of a teacher's rehab session.

Well, enough of my life. The time to go home is when you feel you've done what you need to do that day. Don't beat yourself crazy for not being able to finish the current project and get a jump start on the next- you work with other people so they can do it with you, hence the term CO-WORKERS.

If now, you shudder and start getting sweats from thinking about leaving your work earlier then usual, then there is a bigger problem than just working too much- it's called workaholism. Truly, when one gets such deep pleasure and a sense of escaping the problems one has to face when one goes home, then it is called a problem. It sounds alot like the reasoning of an alcoholic, doesn't it?

I can say all this because I fall into this problem of being a workaholic. My day never ends and when I start to even enjoy non-work related events, I get this tinge of guilt that eventually snowballs into stress.

So when is it time to go home? Well, go home no later then the last person who normally leaves before you goes home- if you work with me or people like me, well then leave about an hour before that person WOULD leave. Once you have stepped into your car and are about to drive home breathe, put on some music, and go home. Once you step into your house, hug your family members for a long time- your home and your free, that is until tomorrow.

Learn more about this author, Elise C..
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