A study published a decade ago in the American Human Resource Management Journal suggested that workaholism stems from the stereotype that people should keep working until they feel “enough is enough.”
That was in 2014. Many professionals are now rebelling against that work culture.
Insurance company Prudential conducted a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. workers in 2022. More than 70% of them had prioritized or were considering prioritizing their personal lives over their work or career.
These people took long breaks from work.How you can too
These people took long breaks from work.How you can too
This sentiment is expressed on social media with terms such as “quiet quits,” where people leave work because they don’t have time to rest.
Akash Premsen, 42, vice president of strategy at Triveni Engineering and based in New Delhi, India, calls himself an “anti-grindset” despite having helped start more than one company. He calls him the movement’s “biggest supporter.” Decades.
“Corporate life has become synonymous with a toxic work culture, which can be harmful to your health if you’re not careful,” he says. “Two close acquaintances in their 40s collapsed and died at their desks due to work fatigue.
“That was a wake-up call. [for me] The goal is to shift to a healthier work system and strive for work-life balance. ”
In China it is lying down. America, gap year.In any case, things are changing
In China it is lying down. America, gap year.In any case, things are changing
“My dogs and kids are my biggest stress reliever. After I get off work, I always play with them and recharge. I also get some downtime and work out at my home gym, which releases endorphins and I’m staying healthy.”
Ankita Gupta, a Delhi-based chartered accountant, left her high-paid office job at Deloitte “working hard” six days a week, 14 to 16 hours a day, eating junk food and neglecting her health. I quit.
Gallbladder full of stones: Chinese girl learns to manage stress
Gallbladder full of stones: Chinese girl learns to manage stress
As a compensation for her work habits, she gained a lot of weight, developed insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, and developed polycystic ovaries, which cause irregular and painful periods in women and cause infertility. Paid syndrome (PCOS).
“Despite several rounds of IVF, we couldn’t conceive. It was very disappointing for me and my husband because we love children,” said Ms. Gupta.
The change was transformative. Ms. Gupta lost her weight, her mood improved and she became pregnant with twins.
She thought long and hard about her career. After several weeks of contemplation, she decided not to return to her corporate life, despite the lure of her large salary.
Instead, she launched Mompreneurs, a networking platform that helps married women and mothers grow their businesses, develop skills, and gain industry insight. The creation of Platform has been so fulfilling that Ms. Gupta calls it her third child.
“I also realized that if I wasn’t a happy and fulfilled person, I wouldn’t be able to create happiness around me. I wanted to change the direction of my life and balance between different roles. “That was the smartest decision I ever made,” she says.
Her passion project has grown from just two members to a 270-strong community in 2020. Most of them are CEOs of successful startups.
They network through panel discussions, workshops, and webinars to support each other, collaborate, and create meaningful synergies, says Gupta.
“The idea is to focus on making the life of a ‘mompreneur’ easier and stress-free by providing a support system. In the process, I also manage the house and the twins. I can now take care of my health,” she says.
Manvi Lohia is the director of holistic health at Ekaanta, a wellness retreat on the banks of the Ganges River in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. She says overworked urban professionals often get too little sleep, have less emotional resilience and a poor mind-body connection.
This can lead to all sorts of stress-related issues, she says, noting that most guests report high stress levels, often because they’re preoccupied with work and money.
“Indians are known to be work-obsessed and often take work home with them due to the lack of clearly defined rules. [work-life] border. ”
They come to escape hardship and find balance in their lives, she says.
Want to reduce stress and risk of chronic disease? Try forest bathing in Hong Kong
Want to reduce stress and risk of chronic disease? Try forest bathing in Hong Kong
Lohia says: “We provide our clients with simple, sustainable tips that they can implement while living a mindful life even after they return to work.”
