Idris Elba talks about his workaholic habits and how therapy helps him manage them.

Renowned British actor Idris Elba recently revealed that he is grappling with his identity as a self-proclaimed "workaholic" and is currently in therapy to address what he described as "unhealthy habits." In an episode of the Changes with Annie Macmanus podcast released Oct. 2, Elba shared that he's been undergoing therapy for approximately a year.

"In my therapy, I've been thinking a lot about changing," Elba stated on the podcast. "It's not because I don't like myself or anything like that. It's just that I have some unhealthy habits that have really formed." Elba acknowledged that the entertainment industry often rewards these very habits.

"I'm a workaholic. I'm an absolute workaholic," he admitted. "And that isn't great for life, generally. Nothing that's too extreme is good. Everything needs balance." Elba recognized that the entertainment world tends to celebrate individuals who don't take time off, so he's trying to adjust these patterns, even though he humorously stated that working less wasn't an option.

Elba then pointed out a peculiar aspect of his work-life balance. "The things that make me relaxed end up being work," he noted. He cited the example that after spending ten days on a film set, he finds working in his home studio more relaxing than "sitting on the sofa watching TV with the family, which is bad, right?"

Studies have delved into workaholism, with researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway finding in 2016 that 7.8% of people could be classified as workaholics. These individuals spend more time at work than initially intended, often at the expense of personal hobbies and exercise.

Elba has garnered acclaim for his roles as Stringer Bell in HBO's "The Wire" and the titular character in the BBC's "Luther." He has also ventured into directing, helming his first feature film, "Yardie," and creating the TV show "In the Long Run" in 2018. Additionally, Elba is a DJ with performances at renowned events like the Glastonbury Festival and Coachella.

It's clear that Elba is in touch with the effects of workaholism, and is actively trying to address his unhealthy habits. The actor is taking steps to find balance in his life, and hopefully his therapy sessions will help him achieve that.

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