I recently read an article that diagnosed the ten signs of work addiction. While in my pre-parenthood days, I could easily work 60 to 70 hours of week without blinking, things have changed. That whole elusive work-life balance issue never hits you more forcefully than when you have a family to answer to. And yes, I still have the same drive and commitment to working hard, and I love the world of communications and public relations, but I’m happy to declare, according to the book Chained to the Desk, I am not a work addict.

Yes, I have some addict-like habits, like I am often in a rush and skip exercise (numbers 1 and 10), but I wouldn’t say I am “no fun” (number 6) or especially “irritable” (number 8).

The authors have identified the 10 most common bad habits that would identify you as being a workaholic, a concept smacks of the late 90’s, for some reason, and seems a little dated. But it goes to prove, even in an economic downturn, the top 10 list concept always works. We want to know, preferably in ten, easily digestible steps, how to tell if our partners love us, if we’re working too much, how to improve our diet, stain our deck or get our in-laws to like us.

The concept of Top 10 is such a common communications crutch that there is even a website devoted to the concept at www.toptenz.net. For example, today’s lists include the Top 10 Weirdest Political Parties, 10 Great Live Performances of the 1960’s and 70’s, and Top 10 Bizarre and Unusual Tragedies. Not that these are all attention-getters on their own, but group them together and name them the top 10 in their field/sector/domain/area of interest, and suddenly you have a topic worth debating.

So, if I take the 10 top signs of work addiction to heart, I am relieved to know that I am not a work addict (just an occasional “user”?? Don’t get hooked, kids!). And in reading Harvard Business Review's Top 10 mistakes made by poor leaders, it seems pretty clear that being a bad leader and a workaholic are not unrelated (both are impatient, can’t collaborate and don’t have good relationships).

So thank you Top 10 lists, and here’s one tip I’ve managed to grasp: it’s important to have good leadership and a healthy work life!