We give everything to our careers: We miss events, take time away from families, work overtime, weekends and check emails at all times of the day. But at some point – when it’s just gotten to be too much – we find ourselves thinking “this can’t be normal”.
Key principles to consider:
1. If it costs peace, it’s overpriced.
True success shouldn’t come at the expense of your mental well-being. When opportunities demand sacrificing your inner calm, they’re asking too much.
2. No boss owns your bloodstream.
Your body belongs to you alone. No employer has the right to dictate how you treat your physical vessel or demand access to your personal time and energy.
3. Hustle should never hijack health.
Ambition is powerful, but not when it becomes a thief stealing your vitality. The grind should fuel you, not drain you completely.
4. You don’t need to collapse to quit.
Walking away before you break isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. You have permission to leave situations that no longer serve you without waiting for rock bottom.
5. You are not a machine in disguise.
Despite what productivity culture suggests, you’re a human being with needs, emotions, and limits. Honor your humanity instead of pretending to be tireless.
6. No salary buys back broken health.
Money can purchase many things, but it cannot restore what stress and overwork have damaged. Your well-being is an irreplaceable investment.
7. Peace pays better than promotions.
The dividends of mental tranquility – better relationships, clearer thinking, genuine happiness – far exceed any bump in title or paycheck.
8. Stop applauding burnout as dedication.
Exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor. Reframe the narrative: sustainable effort and healthy boundaries demonstrate true commitment to your craft.
9. Overworking isn’t loyalty. It’s self-betrayal.
When you sacrifice your needs for a company that would replace you tomorrow, you’re abandoning the person who matters most -> yourself.
10. Your nervous system isn’t company property.
The stress response that keeps you alive belongs to you. No organization has the right to keep your body in a constant state of fight-or-flight for their benefit.
When creating a life that feels balanced, It’s important to ask yourself a few key questions:
-> What has been the cost of keeping up with your career?
-> How is your feeling of balance in relation to your priorities?
-> How can you create more peace?
If you don’t like your answers, then it’s time for change.
And if you need help, I’m a DM away.