Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World: A Guide to Work-Life Balance

In a culture where working hard for long hours is valorized and applauded, it can be difficult to recognize workaholism as a problem. Psychotherapist Robinson (emeritus, Univ. of North Carolina, Charlotte; #Chill: Turn Off Your Job and Turn on Your Life) takes this idea as the starting point for this book. The first edition of this book was published in 1998, but Robinson recognized that the workplace has changed substantially since then. This new edition specifically discusses effects that the pandemic has had on the work world, including the increased possibility of work-from-home roles, the potential impacts that could have on work-life balance, and the “Great Resignation,” an ongoing event in which record numbers of workers have voluntarily left their jobs. The book examines many angles of this topic, from recognizing its signs to potential methods of treatment. The author says that he himself is a recovering workaholic, and he offers compassion and information for those who may be suffering from it as well.