Working Like a Robot

Work is an integral part of one's life. It actually constitutes about a third of our day-to-day activities. This is the social norm. People work to earn and perhaps fulfill social obligations in a macrocosmic perspective. However, personally, there exists a variety of reasons why people work. These reasons become constant motivation to attain a good work morale that keeps one working at an extreme intensity and frequency. Thus, there exists in this world, people working like as if they are robots or workaholics. I can say I am one of them, and this will be the focus of this blogpost.

Workload is relative.

The level of difficulty and complexity of tasks varies from person to another. And through time, the perception of workload also changes in an individual. A difficult task before could be done with ease after some time, and even combination of seemingly impossible challenging tasks becomes manageable with time. On the other hand, work hours are also subjective. When work seems meaningful, working hours seems irrelevant. Time flies, but when tasks are repetitive and non-stimulating for an individual, time becomes a crucial factor. Time seems endless. However, for some even the most monotonous practical tasks maybe meaningful. This depends entirely on how the individual perceives it. So generally, workaholics see tasks differently such that they some meaning to work, regardless of how the majority perceives it.

Work involves a degree of stress.

Work is a like hurdle because tasks require knowledge, skills and effectiveness. These prerequisites become the source of stress at work in most cases. Should one lack practical skills, a worker would naturally avoid, postpone or delegate a task to another. Stress becomes apparent, and this degree of stress is responded by fight-or-flight response. People who confront these insufficiencies seemingly fight work stress, while those who hide from tasks, merely manage work stress temporarily without solving the main issue. This is perhaps where workaholics differ most. Tasks become challenges, while difficulties are to be solved gradually. There are no quick-fix, and nobody becomes efficient and competent overnight. Time is a factor, and time should be seen as an opportunity to improve and manage stress through permanent or lasting solutions.

Work balances not with rest, but with motivation.

Many people think that work should be balanced with rest. One is obliged to rest to get enough energy to endure the next working day. This is a very miopic perspective of work, I believe. Work is not just about physical energy. Ofcourse, work requires a degree of physical energy attained through resting before work. However, this kind of energy includes motivation as well. Should there be no intention or purpose, work becomes menial and tiring immediately. One has to transcend over the physicality of work. For an instance, some perceive money as a work motivation. This is quite common. However, money or wealth is sometimes abstract and unattainable, so people loses motivation. So there should be an alternative interpretation of money as a work motivation. It should be the wealth associated with, but the priceless purpose and meaning of it. Should one understand this, one could a morale uncomparable to anyone that keeps one working day-by-day.

Well, I have been known to work extremely too much, but I can be lazy at times. There are days that I am simply exhausted or unmotivated. However, I would still go to work unless something important is preventing me. That is quite unusual, but it happens from time to time. However, the most important to note is my ability to return to work mode instantly. This is not because I am passionate. I am actually not, I am just practical. Work is work, and someone has to do it. If tasks are more meaningful and fruitful, no matter how difficult it would be, I will do it. The goal is not just to work, but to fulfill a task or at least contribute to a higher goal. If a workaholic, like me is required for that, then why not?