A Fine Balance’s Post

Having a full and intense work schedule doesn’t necessarily skew a person’s work-life balance. In fact, I’ve observed that people often feel their greatest sense of balance when their working time has purpose and meaning, and where there is a strong culture of support and psychological safety. Even when that means working long hours with high-pressured demands. However, I’ve heard over and again how working a high-pressured, fast-paced job in an unsupportive environment can be the catalyst for a total loss of balance. Often this combination - high-pressured demands and no support - is the backdrop to stories I hear of burnout, breakdowns and desperation to the extent of leaving a job without having other employment lined up. In my interview with Routh Chadwick a clinical social worker based in New York, she describes the physical impact that working in such an environment had on her, and what she did to regain her balance. Full interview out soon. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/e6SSPvtZ to be notified when it’s ready to download. #worklifebalance #burnout #breakdown #panicattack #recovery

Having a full and intense work schedule doesn’t necessarily skew a person’s work-life balance. In fact, I’ve observed that people often feel their greatest sense of balance when their working time has purpose and meaning, and where there is a strong culture of support and psychological safety. Even when that means working long hours with high-pressured demands. However, I’ve heard over and again how working a high-pressured, fast-paced job in an unsupportive environment can be the catalyst for a total loss of balance. Often this combination - high-pressured demands and no support - is the backdrop to stories I hear of burnout, breakdowns and desperation to the extent of leaving a job without having other employment lined up. In my interview with Routh Chadwick, a clinical social worker based in New York, she describes the physical impact that working in such an environment had on her, and what she did to regain her balance. Full interview out soon. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/eYhfdev8 to be notified when the epiosde ready to download. #worklifebalance #burnout #breakdown #panicattack #recovery

Working in a fast-paced and high-pressured environment doesn’t necessarily skew a person’s work-life balance. Working in a fast-paced and high-pressured environment where you feel unsupported and under-valued invariably does. For this and more, listen to my interview with Routh Chadwick on the podcast A Fine Balance, where we discuss panic attacks, career changes, smart phones, and regaining balance after hitting rock bottom. Subscribe here to be notified when the episode is available to download: https://lnkd.in/eYhfdev8.

Having a full and intense work schedule doesn’t necessarily skew a person’s work-life balance. In fact, I’ve observed that people often feel their greatest sense of balance when their working time has purpose and meaning, and where there is a strong culture of support and psychological safety. Even when that means working long hours with high-pressured demands. However, I’ve heard over and again how working a high-pressured, fast-paced job in an unsupportive environment can be the catalyst for a total loss of balance. Often this combination - high-pressured demands and no support - is the backdrop to stories I hear of burnout, breakdowns and desperation to the extent of leaving a job without having other employment lined up. In my interview with Routh Chadwick, a clinical social worker based in New York, she describes the physical impact that working in such an environment had on her, and what she did to regain her balance. Full interview out soon. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/e6SSPvtZ to be notified when the epiosde is ready to download. #worklifebalance #burnout #breakdown #panicattack #recovery

Having a full and intense work schedule doesn’t necessarily skew a person’s work-life balance. In fact, I’ve observed that people often feel their greatest sense of balance when their working time has purpose and meaning, and where there is a strong culture of support and psychological safety. Even when that means working long hours with high-pressured demands. However, I’ve heard over and again how working a high-pressured, fast-paced job in an unsupportive environment can be the catalyst for a total loss of balance. Often this combination - high-pressured demands and no support - is the backdrop to stories I hear of burnout, breakdowns and desperation to the extent of leaving a job without having other employment lined up. In my interview with Routh Chadwick, a clinical social worker based in New York, she describes the physical impact that working in such an environment had on her, and what she did to regain her balance. Full interview out soon. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/e6SSPvtZ to be notified when the episode is ready to download. #worklifebalance #burnout #breakdown #panicattack #recovery

Having a full and intense work schedule doesn’t necessarily skew a person’s work-life balance. In fact, I’ve observed that people often feel their greatest sense of balance when their working time has purpose and meaning, and where there is a strong culture of support and psychological safety. Even when that means working long hours with high-pressured demands. However, I’ve heard over and again how working a high-pressured, fast-paced job in an unsupportive environment can be the catalyst for a total loss of balance. Often this combination - high-pressured demands and no support - is the backdrop to stories I hear of burnout, breakdowns and desperation to the extent of leaving a job without having other employment lined up. In my interview with Routh Chadwick, a clinical social worker based in New York, she describes the physical impact that working in such an environment had on her, and what she did to regain her balance. Full interview out soon. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/e6SSPvtZ to be notified when the episode is ready to download. #worklifebalance #burnout #breakdown #panicattack #recovery

Having a full and intense work schedule doesn’t necessarily skew a person’s work-life balance. In fact, I’ve observed that people often feel their greatest sense of balance when their working time has purpose and meaning, and where there is a strong culture of support and psychological safety. Even when that means working long hours with high-pressured demands. However, I’ve heard over and again how working a high-pressured, fast-paced job in an unsupportive environment can be the catalyst for a total loss of balance. Often this combination - high-pressured demands and no support - is the backdrop to stories I hear of burnout, breakdowns and desperation to the extent of leaving a job without having other employment lined up. In my interview with Routh Chadwick, a clinical social worker based in New York, she describes the physical impact that working in such an environment had on her, and what she did to regain her balance. Full interview out soon. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/e6SSPvtZ to be notified when the episode is ready to download. #worklifebalance #burnout #breakdown #panicattack #recovery

Things that we need to stop normalising at the workplace: 1) Regularly working beyond specified working hours: Work as many hours as you like, everyone's preferences vary. But ensure you get paid for the hours that you work. When you are paid for 40 hours but end up working for 70 hours, you pull your own value down. 2) Characterising employees who stand up for themselves, take time off, expect work life balance as 'difficult' or 'troublemakers' or 'rebellious'. There's nothing rebellious about asking for what you are entitled to get. Every working professional deserves time off and personal time during which they can prioritise aspects of their life other than work. 3) Being stressed to the point that you develop chronic health issues. Chronic back pain is not normal. Chronic headaches are not normal. Persistent bouts of depression is not normal. The root cause of several physical health issues lies in stress. Mental health and emotional health matter too. If you are fine physically but struggle emotionally, you're not okay, you're not healthy. You need help. 4) Glorifying the 'stability' of a job No matter how valuable or indispensable you are at the workplace, you can still be replaced in a heartbeat. Instead of looking for stability, work on yourself so much that you always have options - other job offers, self employment, entrepreneurship, freelancing, etc. 5) Complaining about toxic work culture, systemic issues, etc. but doing nothing about it. You don't need to start a union, you don't have to become an activist, but you can begin by standing up for yourself, by speaking out against unfairness at the workplace. If you are priveleged enough to have a roof above your head and food on the table even if you don't have a job, please speak up. 6) Wearing 'busyness' as a badge of honour. If you are harried, worried, stressed, anxious all the time, you are only harming yourself. Just like nature, your life has seasons as well. Work hard and stretch to meet project deadlines, hustle to launch successfully. But then take time to rest and recuperate as well. Go on that vacation. All seasons of your life are important, savour all of them. #WorkLifeBalance #EndToxicWorkCulture #MentalHealthAwareness #EmotionalWellbeing #StressAwareness #WorkplaceStress #SelfCareAtWork

I am somewhat perturbed that many still see work-life balance as a black and white issue, despite discussions around well-being in the workplace (another poorly understood issue). I hold that work and life are not separate but intrinsically intertwined. If I thought otherwise, I would view resilience as lip service, would hardly entertain well-being and certainly not flourishing. #worklifebalance #stress #resilience #flourishingatwork

There's been much discourse around workplace toxicity and overworking, and while it's a complex, multi-faceted issue, I believe it ultimately comes down to personal choice. Overworking without passion or purpose can indeed lead to burnout and harm one's well-being. However, I firmly believe that it's possible to dedicate long hours to something you truly love, while maintaining a healthy balance across other aspects of life. The key lies in being intentional with how we invest our time and energy. When driven by purpose and passion, what may seem like ‘overwork’ to others can instead be a source of fulfillment. Achieving this balance isn't easy, but it's a conscious choice one that requires boundaries, self-awareness, and prioritization. Imo✍️ #WorkPlace #Overworking #Productitivity #Passion #Workbalance