On the surface, the modern worker may appear to be the lucky beneficiary of the work wellness revolution. A Global study conducted by Aon in partnership with IpsosA survey conducted in 2022-2023 found that 83% of companies have a specific “wellness strategy,” an increase of 28% from 2020. However, according to a survey by the Global Future Forum in 2022, more than 40% of people experience burnout at work.
Wellness at work doesn’t actually work because your employer can’t fix it alone. Yes, they can provide you with some very useful self-care tools and opportunities. But let’s be honest: these are just Band-Aids. While they can definitely help reduce the symptoms of burnout, they won’t address the core of burnout because they don’t address the root cause. Only you can do this.
Clear your head this holiday season
Bonus points are awarded if you complete tasks without checking your equipment. As simple as it may seem, a true vacation requires you to overcome the accepted demands of our hustling culture, as well as the internal pressures we impose on ourselves to work more, earn more, and get more done.
For many of us, work is so inextricably linked to our sense of self and self-worth that it can be difficult to leave our desks.recent Research from the Pew Research Center The study found that only 48 percent of U.S. workers have canceled all paid time off provided by their employers.
We feel tremendous pressure to create, produce and keep up. But time outside of work actually delivers a huge return on investment in the form of creative and productive energy. Respect holiday time.
Take a moment to think about what really drives your relationship with work
Are you burned out from being a workaholic?or you really just engaged work with you? If you love your job but are still able to turn off your computer and disconnect (literally stop thinking and talking about work when you’re not working), then you’re experiencing healthy work engagement. Good for you, go ahead.
However, workaholism is a deeper problem. Last year, in the process of writing a book on these issues, I sent a non-scientific survey to my newsletter subscribers and asked them to write down the first thing that comes to mind when they think of the phrase “never enough.” A feeling and an impression.
In just 24 hours, I got over 100 responses, many of them heartbreaking. Here’s a small part:
- No matter what I do, I feel like I’m lacking in some way.
- I was working longer and longer hours and that was enough.
- I thought about the young girl in me who didn’t always see herself as belonging and being different from everyone else.
- It’s not good enough, there’s no end to trying.
- I always have something else to do, perfection doesn’t exist, the game is never over.
The root causes of the inability to disengage from work are manifold. For some of us, addictions are caused by “little” traumas — traumatic experiences in our youth that shape our behavior as adults. For others, social and cultural pressures make us feel like we have to work more than is reasonably necessary to measure and prove our worth.
In my case it was a mix of all the above. Taking the time to understand the unique combination of forces that shape your professional behavior enables you to develop a new, healthier relationship with your work and live a happier life.
less achievement
Now that you’ve taken some time off and worked on the root causes of your problems, it’s time to embrace a whole new way of thinking about work, money, and success. It sounds a bit radical, but I hope you allow yourself to achieve less.
Most people I know are appalled by the idea. So let me be clear: I’m not saying your entire life right now is lounging in a hammock at the beach.It’s more about listening to others Author Elizabeth Gilbert’, he reminded us: ‘You are not a Fortune 500 company. You don’t have to show an increase in profits. “
When you decide to cut back on your accomplishments, you’re giving yourself a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect. Sometimes this means that if you’re traveling, attending a meeting, or dealing with a client, you allow yourself to allow less to get done the next day. If you have a sick child or a spouse who needs more emotional care, maybe you can set aside the rest of the afternoon to be with them. Allow yourself to get fewer things done the rest of the day. Yes, in some cases, the secret to reshaping your life is applying this “less achieve” mentality to the way you approach your professional and personal life in a tactical, long-term way.
I recognize that many people cannot even take a day off without facing financial challenges. But just as we may need some time off to recover from the flu or major medical surgery, we also need some time and space to recover from work behaviors that no longer serve us. Strategically employing a “achieve less” mentality can help you reboot your life.
Manisha Thakor Over 30 years in financial services with a focus on women’s economic empowerment.her latest book is MoneyZen: The secret to finding “enough”.
The opinions expressed in Fortune review articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of: wealth.
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