Life has a way of teaching us the hardest lessons—often through loss, pain, and illness.

For me, those lessons arrived all at once: two precious friends taken by serious illnesses, one suddenly gone before we could say goodbye. Then another dear friend diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, facing a brutal battle. These women were all career-driven, accomplished, in the prime of their lives.

Two are gone. One is fighting fiercely.

In 2023, I faced my own health crisis. These experiences were deafening wake-up calls, reminders of a silent epidemic we often ignore: high-functioning burnout and workaholism.

Burnout is not just exhaustion. It’s a complex, insidious force where relentless external pressures collide with internal beliefs, especially in achievers who wrestle with imposter syndrome and self-neglect. When we tie our identity so tightly to output and achievement, self-care becomes a luxury we feel guilty taking—even when our health depends on it.

Burnout is now a workforce crisis.

This isn’t just a personal issue. Burnout has become a widespread organizational crisis.

These external pressures compound with our own unexamined work habits and beliefs, creating a perfect storm for chronic stress and declining health.

The hard truth of workaholism.

Let’s get honest: many of us live on the edge of workaholism without even realizing it.

The real issue isn’t hours worked, it’s the inability to mentally disconnect. This “rumination” fuels anxiety, insomnia, and chronic stress, damaging our bodies and minds over time.

Here’s where we often get trapped:

• We blur the lines between work and life, letting work consume our whole identity.
• We tie our worth to productivity, believing we are only as valuable as what we produce.
• Guilt dictates choices, taking time off feels like a weakness or an unearned luxury.
• We chase a never-ending “productivity trap” — doing more, yet feeling worse.
• Health falls to the bottom of the list — rescheduling doctors’ visits for deadlines, meetings, and urgent requests.

When we live by the myth of hustle culture and relentless achievement, burnout and illness aren’t just possibilities, they become inevitable.

Our health is our most powerful asset.

If you recognize yourself here, I have one critical question:

How are you truly taking care of yourself?

Are you stuck in a cycle where fear of falling behind or feeling irrelevant keeps you pushing past your limits?

Have you canceled or delayed essential health care because work seemed “more important”?

I understand your challenges.

Because I was there before.

Here’s my firm reminder, learning from my own struggles:

Keep those doctor’s appointments.

Prioritize your health.

You matter, without question.

How to start fighting silent burnout today.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to make a change. Start with these practical steps:

• Set clear boundaries (work & social): Decide when work ends and your personal life begins. This means saying no to late-night emails, turning off notifications, and carving out dedicated time for friends, family, and hobbies.
• Talk to trusted mentors, cross-functional partners, and your manager: If your organizational culture supports employee well-being, you may consider discussing your challenges with your trusted mentors, cross-functional partners, and manager. A collaborative approach can often lead to sustainable solutions.
• Practice ruthless prioritization and empower others through delegation: By prioritizing ruthlessly and empowering others through delegation, you free up your time for higher-impact work and, most importantly, personal recovery.
• Take that day off (and that vacation): Stop holding off on taking your earned time off. Whether it's a mental health day or a much-needed vacation, stepping away from work is crucial for rejuvenation and gaining perspective.
• Consider a career break (if possible, and—necessary): If you find yourself in a habitual state of burnout and are in a position to do so, a career break may offer a profound opportunity to reset, refocus, and re-evaluate your relationship with work.

Final truth: Your health enables your success.

Real success isn’t just about hitting targets. It’s about having the physical and mental well-being to enjoy the life you’re building. Your body and mind are the foundation beneath every achievement.

What’s one concrete step you will take today to protect your health and well-being?

With care, Corinna

© 2025 Corinna Kong. All Rights Reserved.

P.S. If you believe in a world where we can grow without burning out, consider subscribing or sharing this post with a friend.

Reference:​
​How Being a Workaholic Differs from Working Long Hours — and Why That Matters for Your Health, Harvard Business Review
​https://hbr.org/2018/03/how-being-a-workaholic-differs-from-working-long-hours-and-why-that-matters-for-your-health​