Reflections for Workaholics and ''Biblioholics'

In a fast-paced, competition-driven and result-oriented society like ours, rarely do we find someone who is not stressed at work, in school or at home.

Parents and working adults have to work unusually long hours, responding to the demands at the workplace where cost-cutting exercises are an ongoing affair especially against the backdrop of economic downturn. Workload has increased inevitably and for those who still need the job, he or she will have to bite the bullet and move on. Most are stressed and burnt out at the end of the day. Some have simply become workaholics. Workaholics are those who work without a clear and balanced purpose.

Children or students, though not subject directly to the impact of economic downturn are faced with ever-rising expectations to excel academically, from schools and parents. Performance standards have been raised unduly high over the years as studies have become a competitive game. Students have to spend long hours in school and at home coping with studies, homework, assessments, tuitions, tests and examinations and the co-curricular activities or CCAs.

Such heavy school loads have caused many students to be spiralled into a tunnel self-denial, helplessness and even depression. Some are on the verge of giving up, some are suffering from mental stress and still some have chosen to take their own lives at such a young age. As a whole, student don't like to study and don't enjoy going to school. In my own language, they don't like to be ''biblioholics''. They resort to drowning themselves in the sea of computer games the same way many adults get themselves drowned in alcohol.

The problems are real. We have to face the problems squarely by reflecting on our individual purpose in life. What do we want in life? What justifies our existence? Is work or study our only purpose and pursuit in life? Are there better alternatives? At the end of it all, don't get blinded and trapped in a rat race or brain race.