The Glorification of Burnout

“Stay as busy as you can, so that you don’t have time to overthink.” We have all heard this quote at least once in our lives, and some of us may have even tried to implement it. But a genuine question we should ask ourselves is: Is this really working?

There is nothing wrong with wishing for a great future and working toward our goals and dreams. But avoiding our own selves and our needs to keep up with the fast-paced world is definitely not okay. It takes a lot to be successful, but can burnout really lead us there? Not at all. It isn’t always possible to avoid overthinking just by keeping ourselves occupied. Sometimes, no matter how busy we are, it’s never enough for our brain. In most cases, this strategy backfires. Our brain gets even more tired, and the intensity of overthinking can reach a dangerous level, potentially leading to other mental disorders.

People today romanticize being constantly busy and praise being extremely occupied and sleep-deprived as a badge of honor. However, the toll it takes on our body is significant and often irreversible. Not only is mental health affected, but physical health is too. Chronic tiredness affects our body in detrimental ways, manifesting as body aches, increased cholesterol, nervous system disturbances, blood pressure issues, and more.

The world may give this habit a 10/10, but I, as a doctor, can assure you that this is not at all a healthy way of living. Instead, it would be healthier to take time for ourselves and give our minds some well-deserved rest. Picking up a childhood hobby or practicing a passion can be helpful ways to start. Just as we take care of our physical health by eating well and working out, it is high time we start feeding healthy meals to our minds and giving them enough time to relax.

~Adeeba Khan~

Writer’s Introduction : My name is Adeeba Khan. I am a medical student of last year medical school. I started writing while I was in junior school. But after I finished my school I got busy with my studies. Recently during my holidays while I was busy with my other hobbies (painting, calligraphy etc.) I regained motivation for writing when I posted some of my previously written poems online and it got published. This platform is something which is really helpful for the writers like us.