A "workaholic" seems a bit like a joke at first. It suggests that work is addicting. For the majority of us out there, work is far from addicting and usually the first thing we look to avoid. But it's possible to get addicted to the rush of accomplishment, the shattering of expectations and goals, and the success that comes with it.
One fundamental definition of workaholism is, "when individual's relationship with his (or her) work competes with other important relationships. They get more excited about their work than about family or anything else." There are signs that you can see, and I have seen these in myself and friends. This page outlines it nicely (just ignore the blatant plug for services and homeopathic remedies near the end.)
This has been true of me. I would volunteer for more work and put in the hours, sometimes even just hang out after hours at work finishing up tasks that could easily be done during my regular shift. Extra stuff. Little projects. It was exciting to see things started and finished. It was even more exciting when those took off and became standard policy or a new procedure. Suddenly, I became a trendsetter. As someone who definitely did not play that role in school or elsewhere in life, it's surprising.
At one point, I figured out I was working about 60 hours per week on average. I had two jobs and not much balance. Work all day, go home, eat, sleep, and back in the next morning. 12-14 hour shifts were standard. I even spent the first three days of my holidays at work, off the clock (I'm an hourly employee), and not in uniform getting a project done.
I've found hobbies, other interests, but just like the alcoholic that turns to pot, I have to be sure I keep it in check. A couple of years ago, I found myself selling Pampered Chef, working full-time, bookkeeping, and teaching a running clinic. I let the Pampered Chef go and decided to only take on the clinics once or twice a year. I book a week off work every 3 months and pick one project around the house for that week if we're not traveling. Sometimes I even finish that project.
You just take it day by day. When you check your timeclock and the hours are more than 40 per week, you scale back. You promise to go to parties, make dates with friends, and record favourite shows so you have to sit and relax while you watch them. I can't escape work, but I can redirect my energy and that shall be my saving grace.
