Ikigai vs. Workaholism: Why I’ve Given Up Perfectionism and Workaholic Tendencies

1) Confronting Challenges.

Throughout my career, I’ve always faced problems head-on. Being straightforward in tough situations is part of who I am. While I was committed to my work, I sometimes let it turn into workaholism. It’s not that I avoided personal issues or difficult relationships; it was all my own doing. But at that time, as he describes them, I dealt with those issues immediately.

2) Sustainable Pace: Perfectionism Becomes a Shield.

My workaholic tendencies were more about external obstacles: authorities who seemed intent on obstructing me; colleagues who, perhaps out of envy, spread misinformation or tried to discredit my work.

3) The Price of Pursuing Perfection.

If I overcame those barriers, I could succeed with much more effort and perfect execution. Perfectionism served both as a shield and as motivation. I believed that if everything I did was perfect, no one would question my abilities or hinder my success. However, all that perfectionism soon became exhausting, and diminishing returns became a reality. It started affecting my health and the satisfaction I derived from my work.

Ikigai: Japanese for “reason for being.” It represents what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Living your ikigai means finding work that is fulfilling and balanced, adding joy, meaning, and purpose to your life. It’s not just about career choice; it’s about aligning what you do internally with the work you do externally. A sense of self-care brings you ikigai, a flow that motivates rather than drains you, making life more sustainable and rewarding, and giving you a sense of purpose and self-reward.

In contrast, workaholism is an uncontrollable compulsion to work excessively. It is easily driven by external pressures or internal insecurities beyond what is sustainable or healthy. But workaholics — when we talk about “workers obsessed with working late” — are likely unsustainable; their work rhythm and effort are relentless and unsustainable, leading to burnout and emotional exhaustion. Over time, such a pattern is more destructive than productive, offering limited room for rest, recovery, and personal development.

I began to realize that my perfectionism and workaholic behaviors and routines were no longer beneficial to me, did not serve me, and did not provide the satisfaction I desired. Instead of overcoming challenges with intention, I succumbed to external obstacles affecting my overall well-being, concentration, and productivity. I responded to the authorities and colleagues blocking my way with a bit of toughness by pushing myself harder than ever, but it was mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing over time.