I just wanted to try embedding a Tweet for shits and giggles. Nothing else exciting in this post.
New embed feature on Twitter is the reincarnation of the Blackbird Pie WordPress Plugin: wordpress.org/extend/plugins…
— Zack Zaban (@zackzaban) December 10, 2011
My brain is currently in a dichotomous state.
I’m a second semester senior, so I should be out partying and not giving two cents about my grades, right?
With a full course load at 18 credits (technically it should be 19, but I reduced the amount for one class so Mommy and Daddy Zaban don’t have to shell out more tuition), I have so many commitments on my plate. School, plus 3 jobs and a handful of student orgs, makes for a constant flux of chaos and cups of coffee.
Literally, I don’t have time to sit, play video games and do nothing. Okay, I take naps, but that’s because I can burn myself out often. Just look at a random week from last semester. Sadly, I enjoyed everything that was in here and did not regret any of these experiences.
Should I focus on my laziness than my involvement in student organizations, 3 jobs and a bucket full of classes? I’m being serious when I say this. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a type A neurotic person who always needs to be doing something. I literally cannot go 2 weeks without doing something. Sometimes, I’m envious of my roommates who can enjoy “moments of nothing” – simply kick back for long periods of time without getting the urge to go out and work.
For kicks and giggles, I went onto Google and entered the following searches:
With each of these searches, I failed to find a scholarly article that categorized my tendencies with others who simply cannot sit still without getting involved, learning or leading.
Then it hit me: could I the definition and picture perfect image of a workaholic?
With a quick browse on the all-knowing Wikipedia, I found a citation on workaholics that brought me to a Fast Company article about the health risks of being a workaholic.
The articles lead with this paragraph:
In Japan, workaholism is called karoshi — “death by overwork” — and it’s estimated to cause 1,000 deaths per year, nearly 5% of that country’s stroke and heart attack deaths in employees under age 60. In the Netherlands, it’s resulted in a new condition known as “leisure illness,” estimated to affect 3% of its entire population, according to one study. Workers actually get physically sick on weekends and vacations as they stop working and try, in vain, to relax. In a June 27, 2009 article in the Globe and Mail, Tarla Grant examined the issue of workaholics. She cites Statistics Canada which reported that 1/3 of Canadians considered themselves workaholics.
Going down the page, I got a crash course on what, according to author Ray Williams, a workaholic is. At the end, the article provided 5 tests to see if you’re considered a workaholic.
So I tested myself by answering the prompts.
Question 1: Compared to 5 years ago, work is a regular part of your evenings and weekends.
Kinda, but I was in high school 5 years ago. Also, college students don’t really have a standard schedule. Have you ever walked into a university library at 2am?
Question 2: You spend less time with family, friends, community and being engaged in regular activities such as exercise.
No. I’m with people all the time. But I do like to talk about school, advertising and technology A LOT. And I’m pulling the college card again for exercise – I try to work out when I don’t have 25,000 assignments or tests.
Question 3: You eat faster, talk faster, walk faster. You feel like you’re constantly trying to “catch up.”
Talking is a no, but eating and walking are yes. I’d have to admit that I’ll often chow down lunch or dinner so that I could make it to a meeting on time. And I’m always running like a crazy person from point A to point B. However, when I’m with my friends, I don’t think about walking fast or scarfing down food. Simply, I can relax when I’m with them.
Question 4: You’re developing skeletal and muscular problems because of the amount of time you spend sitting or standing, under stress.
No. Thank God.
Question 5: Your focus and concentration is not good, and your productivity is actually declining.
When you factor out procrastination by looking at blogs or Facebook, then I would have to say that I’m focused/have strong concentration.
Okay. Where the hell does this leave me?
I’m still confused.
Does anyone else have this issue, or am I just REALLY weird? Like someone who was programmed wrong and actually enjoys the stress that others constantly hate/dread.
Okay, I’ve been a very bad boy and have not posted on my blog for quite some time. Well, this past semester was quite time consuming (18 credits + multiple jobs).
I promise that I’m going to write a few posts over my winter break.
I promise that I’m going to write a few posts over my winter break.
I promise that I’m going to write a few posts over my winter break.
I promise that I’m going to write a few posts over my winter break.
