I took a year off work recently to detox and had a zero cortisol policy. Lines on my face faded, hair looks great and stopped thinning, came back nicely, lost weight, almost have a six pack for the first time in my life approaching 40. People know how stressful work is but most don't understand what it's like to truly live for yourself stress free. I'm super fortunate and grateful for having the opportunity to do that and highly recommend.

The hardest part about going back to work was reentering that disgusting American corporate culture of toxic optimism. I'm fine with a lot of work and my stress tolerance/management is much better now. But that culture of toxic optimism is hard to handle.

[–] RBWells 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah I had a genius boss who was an outrageous overworker. Like he didn't always work on his job but when not he was learning to play guitar, learning languages, always "on", didn't sleep much and got more done than most any two regular people could do. Like at work he did the work of 3 people at least. It broke his marriage, his life but he cannot slow down. I actually like him as a person but it's terrifying.

On every review I got points from him for "work-life management", limiting work so that I could do life, be with my kids, SLEEP, exercise, take all my "use it or lose it" PTO, etc. I made myself available for one late day a week and one weekend a month, am not inflexible but not so hyperfocused on work and for some reason he could see this as a good quality in an employee - others in the department tried to meet his insane standards and would burn out. By keeping my boundaries I can be creative, see solutions, not get so deep in that I lose the objectivity.

You are not a better worker by killing yourself giving too much to work. Not even by the standards of a boss who is killing himself with overwork. Keep your objectivity. Rest, work, exercise, play, rest. Not work hard play hard, no.

[–] solstice 5 points 1 year ago

Those people are mentally ill. Living in a permanent state of mania or hypomania isn't normal or healthy. But because they are hyperfocused and sleep only a few hours a night they manage to get themselves into leadership positions and set the tone for literally everyone else. It's fucked up.

Setting boundaries is crucial for dealing with these people. I'm so glad my resume and circumstances are strong enough to be able to stand up for myself.

[–] Misconduct 5 points 1 year ago

We're living longer and aging slower than ever before now