It can be hard to remember, in the middle of the busy season, that there will come a time when things will slow down and you will have time to leave your desk or even take some time off. Of course, not everyone will scale back their work habits. Some will keep going, full speed, not just into the post tax season but for years to come. These people are workaholics.

Workaholism, like many other addictions, has been linked to a variety of health and emotional problems, from exhaustion and high blood pressure to divorce and an inability to relax.

"High-income, highly educated people are particularly likely to suffer from workaholism with regard to deciding when to retire -- going cold turkey on their addictive behavior," said Joel Slemond, professor of business economics and public policy at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross school of Business and director of the Office of Tax Policy research.

Slemrod and colleague Daniel Hamermesh of the University of Texas, examined data from the University of Michigan's Retirement History survey and Panel Study of Income Dynamics and found that highly educated workers are less likely to follow through with their retirement plans. According to the study, workaholics, many of whom become addicted early in their careers, often misjudge the costs and benefits of working more hours and working beyond their retirement dates.

"The results suggest that certain more educated and higher-income respondents simply cannot help themselves," Slemrod said. "They express an expectation of retirement, but when the time comes, they are less likely to be retired."

Of course, addiction to work may be only part of the explanation. Something else could also be going on.

"An alternative cause may be that people develop apparent workaholic behavior because they develop additions to the consumer goods whose increased purchase is made possible by the fruits of their work," Slemrod explains.

We all look like workaholics during the busy season. The real test comes later in the year. If you are still at your desk when everyone else is scheduling, taking and talking about vacations, it may be time to take a hard look at your priorities. Before retirement passes you by.

Written by Jay Hammond, Managing Editor, AccountingWEB.com Editor@AccountingWEB.com