Workplace: Escape the trap of burnout and hustle culture

livemint.com:

Lancet, found that individuals working 55 hours or more in a week have a 1·3-times higher risk of stroke than those working fewer hours. The negative outcomes are not just limited to our health. Paradoxically, when we chase success through overwork, it often leads to the opposite result.

Creativity and innovation, the cornerstones of career growth, become stifled. Research shows that work stress exerts an impact on creativity by wasting an individual’s motivation, and cognitive and emotional resources. When a demanding work environment leads to very deadline stress, it can damage motivation and creativity.

This, in turn, makes the quality of our work suffer with errors from fatigue and poor decision-making. The desire to learn and grow fades, as our cognitive functions struggle to keep up with the relentless pace. We become trapped in a vicious cycle.

The first step to break free from the trap of overwork is to shift our focus from the quantity of hours worked to the quality of efforts. Prioritizing tasks effectively, embracing time management techniques, and setting clear boundaries become essential tools to reclaim control over our time and energy. Learning to say “no" is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary act of self-preservation.

By prioritizing sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise, we are investing in ourselves. Technology serves as a powerful ally in promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle. With the right tools and automation, we can leverage technology to increase efficiency.