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I Made Myself Ill by Prioritising Work Over My Health
Why is having a poor work-life balance still romanticised?
After a month of illness that included sepsis and two surgeries, I finally got the memo to prioritise my health over work. When I saw the comments from BrewDog’s co-founder James Watt about how work-life balance was a concept only understood by those who hated their jobs, I was ready to launch my laptop out of the window.
In a video, which was deleted after receiving abusive messages, Watt appeared with his fiancé, who gushed about how much she shared his work ethic. Even at the dinner table, they claimed not to switch off from work.
My job can be stressful, but I love it. However, I love my own time more. My work pays the bills and gives me the means to swim, go out to dinner, do Pilates, spend quality time with my family and friends and take up hobbies. Nursing doesn’t define me as a person. It’s my job. I don’t owe the profession anything other than my contractual hours. I didn’t always see it that way, and my health has suffered as a result.
Why is it still seen as an admirable quality to overwork?
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