8. To Reduce the Strain of Overwork, Learn to Listen to Your Body

→ by STEPHANIE J. CREARY and KAREN LOCKE

IF THERE WAS one constant theme in Bianca’s life, it was always pushing herself to meet others’ expectations. Bianca (not her real name) became an accountant because her grandfather told her that it was a good job. At work, she also pushed herself to meet others’ ideals. “They paid me well enough to be able to get blood from a stone. I let my company suck me into that hole.” Years of working toward others’ ideals eventually took a toll on Bianca’s mental and physical health. “Management was ruthless,” she shared. “It got to a point where there was no work-life balance. I was coming home, working all night, yelling at my kids… the stress just seeped into my family life. I ended up having anxiety issues. My health went…

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Harvard Business Review Special Issues (Digital) - 1 Issue, Spring 2024

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