Achieving a Healthy Relationship with Work Commitment

By Agnieszka Girling

Are you a workaholic?

Let’s begin with the Work Addiction Risk Test by Brian Robinson, author of Chained to the Desk.

Read each of the 25 statements below and decide how much each one pertains to you. Using the rating scale of 

• 1 (never true) 

• 2 (seldom true) 

• 3 (often true) 

• 4 (always true) 

indicate the number that best fits you beside each statement. 

Add up the numbers for your total score. The higher your score, the more addicted you are to work. The following key will help you interpret your score: 

• 25–54: You are not work-addicted. This may reflect a healthy relationship with work—or minimal commitment.

• 55–69: Mild work addiction. Typical signs include difficulty relaxing, frequent overtime, guilt or anxiety when not working, and diminished focus on hobbies, relationships, or social events.

• 70–100: High work addiction. In my coaching experience, this level is unsustainable. It often leads to burnout, deteriorating health, and strain on personal relationships. Individuals in this range may benefit from therapy alongside coaching support.

Why Does It Matter?

Work addiction—like substance (alcohol, drugs) or behavioral addictions (gaming, gambling)—can significantly damage physical, emotional, and relational well-being. It can affect not just your health and relationships, but ironically, your career too.

What makes work addiction particularly challenging is that it's often socially endorsed. Those addicted to work may be praised for their dedication or ability to "push through." This approval masks the harm, wrapping the addiction in culturally prized traits such as ambition, responsibility, diligence, and strong work ethic. As a result, it becomes harder to identify and address.

What Should You Do If You’re Struggling?

If your score lands you near or in the danger zone, take time to reflect on the deeper narrative driving your work habits:

• Are you justifying overcommitment through personal values like passion, responsibility, or perfectionism?

• Do you blame external factors (“My job is just that demanding”)? What personal agency might you reclaim?

• What are you missing out on—joy, rest, connection, or creativity—because of your work habits?

• Whose expectations are shaping your behavior? Parents? Partners? A desire to impress? Are these expectations even valid or current?

• Consider reaching out to a coach for guidance around setting healthier goals and boundaries—and speak with a therapist if needed.