“Why are you working so much, you need to have some fun,” is what they tell me. A simple half-hearted “yeah I know I should try that sometime” is all that I can offer in response.

This is the tale of a workaholic, to those working from sun-up to sundown, those who have no off days, to those who get things done. Lets first and foremost be clear, being a workaholic by all means in most cases is not a choice, rather a necessity. It is the hand you are dealt with but workaholics face this adversity head on, they won’t just sit back and crumble but rather rise to the challenge leave anyone who can not keep up behind.

To those who work those graveyard shifts, the nine to five, and those hectic all day shifts I applaud you. To those that see their forty-hour workweek and go all DJ Khaled and ask for ‘anotha one’ keep doing your thing. I often hear from friends whether it is on social media (with my schedule the only way to stay in touch) how hard their shift was, that work was grueling, that there little five-hour shift really tired them out.

By all means to those who are lucky enough that they do not have to work, or at least they do not have to work at the workaholic level you are the lucky ones. As much as you may get harassed for working only a minimal amount just know that it stems from envy. As you sleep into the mid afternoon I stay struggling to grab a solid six hours due to lack of time in a day to get things done. It never seems like there are enough hours in a day or enough coffee in the cup to get everything done.

While people learn that I am indeed a workaholic the common response is usually something along the lines of, “wow you must be making so much money.” Yeah or so you thought, the reason I work so much is because I need money, those bills are not about to pay themselves (I will keep hoping they do though). What many don’t realize is that there are some not so obvious tradeoffs. Remember that thing people have outside of work, oh yeah a social life. Becoming a workaholic is a lot like getting a new boyfriend/girlfriend. At first, your friends will text you to do something and all you can do is say sorry your busy until it ultimately leads to you being the lone one out, as those courteous texts begin to fade. As fun as seventy-hour work weeks, long shifts and dealing with numerous tasks at a time seem being a workaholic can get to you. Take your time, take a day off from being a workaholic every once in awhile, I mean even the workaholics who built Rome couldn’t finish in a week.

Being a workaholic is a blessing and a curse that I know all to well. The responsibility and all that you learn along the way is unimaginable. While others may be struggling to find five dollars you know that when you evidently get that day off you have the means to enjoy it however you may wish. As much as you dread your schedule we all know that the grind of working is something that we can’t shake, that we have learned to love it.

Now if you don’t mind I have to get back to work