Resisting the Urge to Overwork in the Face of Discrimination

Issue 15 | Resisting the Urge to Overwork

What. A. Week.

This week we saw:

• The president revoked a landmark executive order signed by Lyndon B. Johnson to prevent discrimination in government employment and advance racial equality. Executive Order 11246 has led to a more diverse workforce over the past 40 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and provided protections for workers from discriminatory practices. (The Washington Post)
• Hundreds of immigrants in the United States were arrested and hundreds of others were flown out of the country on military aircraft. (CBS)
• All DEI workers in the federal government were put on administrative leave with their jobs to be eliminated soon as a part of the president’s anti-DEI efforts. (NBC News)

This list doesn’t even include every executive order signed or the fires that continue to rage in California. And this was only week one. I’m exhausted by thinking about what the rest of the month, year, and presidential term (or terms) will bring.

But speaking of exhaustion, I’ve been thinking about how the reversal of many of our long-standing civil rights is a setup for burnout.

For many of us, especially those from marginalized identities, burnout comes both from working hard AND from striving in environments that undervalue who we are. The pressure to prove our worth, to achieve beyond expectations, and to outwork systemic inequities can leave us exhausted and depleted.

And now, as we face a rise in discrimination and the erosion of protections against said discrimination, history is gearing up to repeat itself. And I can feel in my nervous system how many of us will be tempted to revert to our factory settings - the old default to work twice as hard is waiting to be revived.

Mark my words.

In moments like these, many will feel the pull to revert to old norms—working twice as hard to prove our worth, as generations before us were conditioned to do. Sadly, our ancestors experienced these SAME LACK OF PROTECTIONS and these SAME discriminatory conditions we woke up to this week. They learned working twice as hard as a tactic to attempt to outwork discrimination, and they dutifully passed the game down to us.

But let me remind you: overworking to prove your worth does not work.

Overworking to prove your worth relinquishes your power when you give someone else the say over what determines your worth.

Overworking to prove your worth makes you believe you must produce superhuman machine-like results as a baseline. Your pace becomes a default 110% at all times. This leaves you depleted because you cannot bloom year-round.

Overworking to prove your worth extracts your excellence at a bargain basement price that is far less than your actual worth. This leaves you undercompensated.

Overworking to prove your worth sets you up for institutional gaslighting - you’ll forever be chasing the carrot of validation. So when the powers that be tell you you’re not good enough, you’ll keep trying to improve and overproduce for the approval and praise that’s not coming. ?? Read the rest on Substack

?? In The Press - Ratchet & Respectable Podcast

Mama, I made it!

I'm the featured guest this week on Ratchet & Respectable with Demetria L. Lucas . I've gotten a ton of great feedback on this interview, so please listen - it will NOT disappoint!

Give it a listen and please share your thoughts.

?? Recommended Reading | 5 Clues From Your Past To Make A Career Pivot Or Job Search Easier - My Latest for Forbes

Nearly 3 in 5 (58%) of people globally plan to look for a new job this year, yet half say the job search has become harder in the last year, according to new research from LinkedIn. Aside from the volume of other job applicants and a sluggish job market, many job-seeking professionals also struggle with knowing which part of their narrative is still valuable and which part needs to shift.

When it’s time to pivot in your career or business, the temptation to start from scratch can feel overwhelming. Many high-achievers believe that reinvention requires leaving everything behind—audiences, skills, and even the reputation they’ve spent years building. But the truth is, the key to a successful pivot sometimes lies in leveraging your foundation, not abandoning it completely.

But as I often share with my coaching clients, everything you’ve done including the clients you’ve served, the roles you’ve played, and the feedback you’ve received all form a foundation that sets you apart in a unique way. Building on that foundation is how you position yourself for your next chapter. ?? Read 5 Clues From Your Past To Make a Career Pivot or Job Search Easier on Forbes.com

?????????? More Praise for The Rest Revolution

?? Have you finished reading the book? Please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Amazon.

???????? The Seasonal Clarity Intensive - What is it Your Season to Do?

For over a decade, I’ve guided high achievers—from executives at Google, Amazon, and Colgate to creative entrepreneurs—to clarify their genius, package their expertise, and land career-defining opportunities. But after years of running my own successful business, I hit a breaking point.

Despite helping others shine, I was burnt out, overworked, and creatively drained. I had spent so much time focusing on others that I lost connection with my own passions. So, I stepped away. I took a sabbatical, reconnecting with my love for writing and recalibrating my life. During that season, I published personal essays in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes, and I wrote my book, The Rest Revolution.

That year gave me clarity about what truly mattered—and how to create a sustainable, aligned life and career. Now, I’ve used that time to deepen my executive coaching framework to help others do the same.

In my 2-hour Seasonal Clarity Intensive, we’ll take a deep dive into your goals, challenges, genius, and unique opportunity. Together, we’ll map out a personalized plan to align your work, energy, and ambitions with what lights you up. Whether you’re coming back from burnout or preparing for a bold new life or career move, this session is designed to give you clarity, confidence, and direction. (And the customized report is a client favorite--think 30+ pages all about YOU)

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Thanks so much for reading...

Until next time,

Amanda

About Amanda Miller Littlejohn

Amanda Miller Littlejohn is a nationally recognized executive coach, personal branding strategist, mental health advocate, and author of The Rest Revolution. For over a decade, Amanda has helped high achievers—from corporate executives to creative entrepreneurs—clarify their genius, package their expertise, and achieve visibility and influence in their fields. She is a 2024-2025 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Fellow whose work has been featured in Forbes, The Washington Post, and Fast Company, among other major outlets.

Drawing from her own journey of overcoming burnout, Amanda now teaches professionals how to balance ambition with alignment. Through her signature programs, including the Package Your Genius Academy and Seasonal Clarity, Amanda empowers leaders to build powerful personal brands while reclaiming their rhythm and redefining success on their terms.