Coping with Imbalance

Finding Inner Balance in a World of Extremes

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The Capitalist Pendulum

The relentless cycles of overwork and burnout perpetuate the swing of the capitalist pendulum, driving individuals to exhaustion across many professions.

In 2024, 77% of U.S employees experienced burnout in their job. That means that approximately 124 million people (77% of this number), are grappling with significant mental and physical health challenges. Mentally one may feel emotionally exhausted, depressed, anxious, and/or cognitive struggles. Physically, one may experience chronic fatigue, an inability to sleep, a weakened immune system, and/or greater susceptibility to serious medical conditions like heart disease.

This also creates a significant economic loss for businesses. Around $322 billion annually in lost productivity, not including the additional burden of healthcare expenses. This does include the increased hiring costs. Employees who experience burnout are 2.6 times more likely to look for another job.

I know these cycles all too well. I remember working in an environment where I was told that we could ‘say no’ to extra work after our company experienced layoffs. Yet for months, my team didn’t really have…