The Reward for Hard Work is... More Work?

 

Diary,

They don’t really prepare you for what happens when you become the “go-to” person at work. One day, I was figuring things out quietly from my little HR corner then suddenly, my phone wouldn’t stop ringing, my name was in emails and every meeting invite, and I somehow became… "important". 

Unintentionally important.

At first, it felt like a win. Proof that I was doing something right. Ultimately, it came at a cost.

I found myself constantly switched on, always holding something together. My sleep was lighter, my weekends shorter, my mood heavier. The reward for being efficient, reliable, and detail-oriented was... more responsibility. More eyes on me. More expectations. Oh Chi'm 😫

It started to bleed into everything, my energy, my body, my personal life and most importantly, MY SLEEP! I wasn’t unhappy exactly, just disconnected. I missed me.

Here’s the part I’m proud of: I didn’t let it stay that way.

I started making soft little rebellions against burnout. A solo drink here. A movie night there. A weekend dedicated to absolutely nothing but bed, snacks, and vibes only. I made peace with the fact that I can care deeply about my work and still choose rest, softness, and boundaries.

I’m not where I used to be, and I’m not exactly where I want to be either but I’m somewhere in between, and that feels like growth.

This is your gentle reminder that you can do your job well without losing yourself. That your ambition doesn’t have to cancel out your joy. And that it’s okay if your version of balance looks like a full weekend of bed-rot and sweet nothingness.

Being important doesn’t mean being available all the time and hard work doesn’t mean self-abandonment.

Talk soon!

Debbie 💋