Workaholics Anonymous is a group that helps people who struggle with being addicted to work. It's like Alcoholics Anonymous, but for work addiction. The group is made up of 20 members who meet online every week. They come from different parts of the UK and have different time zones.
In the meetings, the members talk about their experiences and feelings about being workaholics. One woman feels bad and upset because she can't stop herself from working, even after she puts her son to bed. Another woman admits that she talks about work too much because she's insecure when she's with her partner's family. Both women want to have a life that's not just about work.
Caroline Walker is writing a book about her recovery from work addiction. She says there's a difference between working a lot and being addicted to work. Workaholics know that their behavior is bad and they can't control it. This makes them feel ashamed and they try to hide their addiction. Workaholics use work to avoid feeling bad about themselves.
Playwright James Graham used to be a workaholic. He says he got all his self-esteem and happiness from work. This made it hard for him to have close relationships with people. In the UK, work addiction is not considered a medical condition. This means people don't notice it until they get burnt out or have health problems.
According to life coach Nick Hatter, work addiction often comes from being afraid of not having enough or not being good enough. Not having enough money can also make people want to work too much. Therapist Lee Fernandes warns employers that letting employees work too much can lead to burnout. Work addiction can be different for men and women. Women might not spend as much time in the office, but they're always working.
Workaholics Anonymous has almost 20 meetings every week in the UK. People of all ages go to these meetings. Recovery from work addiction takes a long time, but the group helps people see that they are more than just their job. They learn to separate their identity from their work.
Original news source: Workaholics Anonymous: 'I couldn't step away from the computer' (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Have each group read the article and then summarize the main points in a news-style summary. They should focus on the key information and try to condense it into a short paragraph. Afterward, each group can share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to work addiction, such as "Work addiction is a real problem" or "Employers should do more to prevent work addiction." Have the students move around the room and find a partner. They should take turns sharing their opinion on each statement and explaining their reasoning. After a set amount of time, they can find a new partner and repeat the process with different statements.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word "work addiction" on the board. Have the students take turns saying a word or phrase that comes to mind when they think of work addiction. Encourage them to think creatively and make connections. Write their responses on the board and discuss as a class.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a large sheet of paper and markers. Instruct one student to describe a scene related to work addiction while the other student sketches based on the description. After a set amount of time, have them switch roles. Once both students have had a chance to describe and sketch, they can compare their drawings and discuss what they learned about work addiction from the activity.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to make a list of the pros and cons of being a workaholic. They can discuss the potential benefits, such as career success or financial stability, as well as the drawbacks, such as burnout or strained relationships. Afterward, each group can share their lists with the class and engage in a class-wide discussion about the pros and cons of work addiction.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Workaholics Anonymous is a group that helps people who are addicted to work. It is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous because it provides support and a safe space for people to talk about their addiction and recovery.
The members of Workaholics Anonymous meet online every week. They come from different parts of the UK and have different time zones.
One woman feels bad and upset because she can't stop herself from working, even after she puts her son to bed. Another woman admits that she talks about work too much because she's insecure when she's with her partner's family.
According to Caroline Walker, the difference between working a lot and being addicted to work is that workaholics know that their behavior is bad and they can't control it. This makes them feel ashamed and they try to hide their addiction. Workaholics use work to avoid feeling bad about themselves.
Being a workaholic made it hard for James Graham to have close relationships with people. He got all his self-esteem and happiness from work, so he didn't have much time or energy for other people.
No, work addiction is not considered a medical condition in the UK. This means people don't notice it until they get burnt out or have health problems.
According to life coach Nick Hatter, some possible reasons why people become workaholics are being afraid of not having enough or not being good enough. Not having enough money can also make people want to work too much.
Workaholics Anonymous helps people recover from work addiction by providing support and a safe space for them to talk about their addiction and recovery. The group helps people see that they are more than just their job and learn to separate their identity from their work. Recovery from work addiction takes a long time, but the group provides ongoing support and encouragement.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Workaholics Anonymous is a group that people who struggle with being to work. It's like Alcoholics Anonymous, but for work addiction. The group is made up of 20 who meet online every week. They come from different parts of the UK and have different time zones. In the meetings, the members talk about their experiences and feelings about being . One woman feels bad and upset because she can't stop herself from working, even after she puts her son to bed. Another woman admits that she talks about work too much because she's insecure when she's with her partner's family. Both women want to have a life that's not just about work. Caroline Walker is a book about her recovery from work . She says there's a difference between working a lot and being addicted to work. Workaholics know that their is bad and they can't control it. This makes them feel ashamed and they try to hide their addiction. Workaholics use work to avoid bad about themselves. Playwright James Graham used to be a workaholic. He says he got all his self-esteem and happiness from work. This made it hard for him to have close relationships with people. In the UK, work addiction is not a medical condition. This means people don't it until they get burnt out or have health problems. According to life coach Nick Hatter, work addiction often comes from being of not having enough or not being good enough. Not having enough can also make people want to work too much. Therapist Lee warns employers that letting employees work too much can lead to . Work addiction can be different for men and women. Women might not spend as much time in the office, but they're always working. Workaholics Anonymous has almost 20 meetings every week in the UK. People of all ages go to these meetings. Recovery from work addiction takes a long time, but the group helps see that they are more than just their job. They learn to separate their from their work.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is Workaholics Anonymous and what do they do?
2. How would you feel if you couldn't stop yourself from working even after you put your child to bed?
3. Do you think it's a problem if someone talks about work too much? Why or why not?
4. How do workaholics use work to avoid feeling bad about themselves?
5. Can you relate to getting all your self-esteem and happiness from work? Why or why not?
6. Why do you think work addiction is not considered a medical condition in the UK?
7. What do you think are some reasons why people become workaholics?
8. Why does not having enough money make people want to work too much?
9. How do you think working too much can lead to burnout?
10. In what ways can work addiction be different for men and women?
11. Have you ever heard of or attended a support group like Workaholics Anonymous? Why or why not?
12. How do you think attending Workaholics Anonymous meetings can help people recover from work addiction?
13. Do you think it's important to separate your identity from your work? Why or why not?
14. How do you think work addiction affects personal relationships?
15. Can you think of any strategies or tips to help someone overcome work addiction?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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