When culture and well-being collide, how much control do individuals actually have to avoid burnout?

Dear Friends,

I am back from a once-in-a-lifetime,?two-week vacation with my youngest daughter and sister (highlights?below)!?After a year of fitting work and end-of-life caregiving together before my dad died in February, I needed a few days away to?rest?and re-energize.

Just two weeks with little or no contact with work. Honestly, I haven't done that often enough over the years since I was required?to be out of the office for two consecutive weeks as a banker. But that?small, meaningful action of taking a few days to explore?other countries with family and friends did wonders for my well-being.

I was reminded, once again, of what can happen when you?"tweak" your work+life fit with intention. Yes, sometimes even the person?who writes an entire?book on?the topic needs a reminder!?:)?

How much power do we,?as individuals, have to impact our?work+life fit especially when what we need or?want clashes with an organization's culture? ?

This was?the topic of a?terrific conversation I recently participated in with Morra Aarons-Mele and Bloomberg's, Sarah Green Carmicheal, on Morra's LinkedIn Live and her podcast, The Anxious Achiever: ?"Burnout culture is everywhere--case in point, a lawsuit brought against Goldman Sachs earlier this year by a former employee claiming that the relentless workload required by the firm lead to heart problems and depression...(what is) the interplay between company culture and individual experience and behavior as it relates to our mental health."?

I highly recommend reading Sarah Green Carmichael’s?Bloomberg column?that prompted the conversation.?(You can also watch our discussion on?LinkedIn Live or listen on?“The Anxious Achiever”?podcast).

What do you think? ?As we head into a long weekend in the U.S., what small, meaningful "tweaks"?can you plan that will help you rest and re-energize? ?

Until next time, keep reimagining work and life,

- Cali

And here are some highlights?from my vacation!