From Burnout to Thriving
Overcoming unhealthy habits and reclaiming my well-being.
For most of my career, I thought burnout was just a part of success. I believed that putting everyone else first, working nonstop, and collapsing on the couch at the end of the day was simply what it meant to be an ambitious, driven professional. This was my reality at Google—a high-pressure environment where overachieving wasn’t a choice; it was an expectation. I thrived on deadlines, excelled at multitasking, and felt validated by constant busyness. But it wasn’t long before I realized that the habits I had developed to succeed were doing more harm than good.
What I didn’t understand then, and what took years of learning, testing and iterating to realize, was that the drive to succeed was holding me back from true success. It was burning me out. And the worst part? I thought the problem was external. I blamed the workload, the tight deadlines, the demanding clients, and the nonstop meetings. But the truth was, I wasn’t prioritizing myself. I was ignoring the unhealthy habits that were eroding my well-being from the inside out.
Putting Everyone Before Yourself: The Fast Track to Burnout
As a high achiever, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that you must be everything for everyone. You’re constantly saying yes to others—whether it’s taking on extra projects at work, covering for colleagues, or being the reliable friend who’s always there. For years, I put others’ needs before my own, thinking that by doing so, I was proving my worth. But what I was doing was draining myself to the point of exhaustion. The breaking point for me came during a particularly stressful period at work. I had packed my calendar with back-to-back meetings, staying late to meet impossible deadlines, all while trying to maintain some semblance of a personal life. But the truth was, my personal life was falling apart. I wasn’t taking care of myself, and it was showing up in every area of my life—emotionally, physically, and mentally. Eventually, I realized that if I didn’t make myself a priority, no one else would. That’s when I started to shift my focus.
Overloading Your Calendar: The Myth of Productivity
One of the biggest mistakes I made was equating a full calendar with productivity. I believed that if my schedule was packed, it meant I was getting more done. But the reality is that filling your calendar with meetings, tasks, and commitments leaves little room for high-impact activities—the ones that truly move the needle. I was constantly rushing from one thing to the next, never fully present, and often multitasking. But at the end of the day, I didn’t feel accomplished. I felt overwhelmed, distracted, and like I was spinning my wheels without making real progress. It wasn’t until I started intentionally carving out time for focused, uninterrupted work that I saw a shift. By creating specific time blocks for deep work, I was able to prioritize what really mattered and eliminate the unnecessary distractions that filled my day.
Inadequate Recovery: Netflix Won’t Fix Burnout
Like many people, my go-to recovery method at the end of a long day was zoning out in front of the TV. I told myself it was relaxing, that it was my way of unwinding. But it wasn’t giving my nervous system the recovery it needed. True recovery isn’t about numbing out—it’s about actively recharging. What I really needed was to step away from the screens and engage in activities that replenished my energy—whether that was going for a walk in nature, practicing yoga, or simply being still and breathing. Once I made this shift, I noticed a significant improvement in my energy levels and overall well-being. And this leads me to some of the practical strategies that helped me not just survive in the corporate world but thrive.
Practical Tips for Thriving in the Corporate World
❶ Invest in Yourself
Before diving into your workday, take time for self-care—whether that’s journaling, meditating, exercising, or even just enjoying a cup of coffee in peace. When you take time to invest in your well-being first, you show up for your tasks more energized, focused, and ready to give your best. You canʼt pour from an empty cup, and starting the day by filling yours will make a huge difference.
❷ Set Priorities
One of the biggest shifts I made was becoming crystal clear on what was truly important each day. When everything feels urgent, nothing is. Instead of letting others dictate my schedule, I began to prioritize my tasks by their impact and importance. I blocked my calendar for focused work and removed distractions, like my phone or email, during those periods. This simple change helped me regain control over my time and feel more accomplished at the end of the day.
❸ Create Focused Time Blocks
We often feel the need to be available to others 24/7, but constantly being reactive hinders productivity. Instead of dropping everything to respond to every request, I created focused time blocks for my most important work. If someone needed my input, I’d schedule a specific time to address it, rather than letting it derail my flow. This approach allowed me to be both productive and responsive without burning out.
Conclusion: You Deserve to Thrive
Recognizing and addressing unhealthy habits was the key to transforming my experience of work and life. It wasn’t easy to shift from a mindset of constant hustle to one of intentional productivity and self-care, but it made all the difference. My message to you is simple: you deserve to thrive, not just survive. Start prioritizing yourself and watch how your life—and success— transforms. If you’re curious about how you can implement these strategies in your own life, view my TEDx talk, “Is Your Drive to Succeed Holding You Back?”, where I dive deeper into these ideas and share more insights on how high achievers can find success without burning out.
