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‘I am always thinking about work…getting a bit burnt out,’ says Kartik Aaryan about his lack of personal time; psychologist shares coping strategies

"I have been in that space for the longest time," Kartik Aaryan said.

Kartik Aaryan opens up about his workaholism. (Photo: Kartik Aaryan/ Instagram)

Kartik Aaryan has had a good year professionally. In an exclusive interview with indianexpress.com, the Chandu Champion actor, however, shared that he seldom finds time for himself and hasn’t gotten the space to enjoy the fruits of his labour. “I don’t think I am able to give myself that personal time because I am always thinking about work, the way forward, what have I not done, what went wrong, what is right. I have been in that space for the longest time. I think I need time for myself also; I am getting a bit burnt out with this — just constantly been working,” he said.

How does work impact mental health and well-being?

Ashutosh Tiwari, psychologist at MindGlass well-being, Delhi, shared that while an excessive love for work is not inherently harmful, it can harm our health when it compromises our social life, reduces our sleep time, and increases our expectations of mobile activities. Extended working hours have severe physical, mental, and social impacts on us and others. A workaholic person in a team can also create pressure on others to do more, and it harms the effectiveness of the workplace.

Working without breaks for hours leads to persistent stress, strain on the body, and restlessness, which harms mental and physical health. “An excessive love for work takes a lot of energy- people then switch to artificial drinks, tea, and coffee. Regardless, it can result in reduced productivity and burnout,” said Tiwari. Avoiding personal contacts and close people only because of work can damage the bonds with family and friends as it requires physical proximity and quality time to maintain and sustain them, he added.

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When we find it difficult to disconnect from work, Tiwari said that it comes at the cost of unhealthy sleep habits or poor sleep and directly affects overall well-being. Prolonged working can also harm imagination, creativity, and novel thinking.

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Set your boundaries for work and home time with priority. (Source: Freepik)

What can you do if you identify as a workaholic?

Tiwari shared that some proven techniques, habits, and activities can help you disconnect from the negative impact of workaholism:

Set your boundaries for work and home time with priority.
Change your clothes and get fresh after reaching your home.
Avoid talking about your work at home, both challenges and achievements, if not necessary.
Practice mindfulness (deep breathing, focused meditation), and after work, go for a walk to calm your mind and soothe your body.
Set automatic emails for your week off and holidays with “Not available till [DATE].”
Play with your kids or help them with their games and academics, and if you’re single, spend time with elders and friends.
Enjoy your hobbies after work, and if you don’t have any hobbies, then you can choose to help your loved ones in the kitchen and at home.