Don’t be a martyr at work, it’s not a good look: 4 steps to take time off. Now.
Edited and updated May, 2022.
2020 didn’t just change the way we work—it changed the way we didn’t stop working, too. No commutes meant more computer time. Travel bans pushed vacation hours to the max with no chance of cashing in. Now, two years later, with many of us back to working in offices, there's an even greater need to take time off to reset and relax.
Then there are the feelings of fear and guilt. “So many have lost jobs that there's increased pressure to show up fully and be highly productive,” says Dr. Sara Gottfried, a Harvard-educated, board-certified MD and author of three New York Times bestselling books. “This is on top of a baseline of overwork for many of us.”
To maintain whole body well-being though, Dr. Gottfried notes that this is even more reason to take time off, no excuses. Work will absolutely go on without you, and to think otherwise can turn into an ego play. Here, Dr. Gottfried outlines how to stop being a work martyr and take care of yourself:
About the author: Jacki Marzano is SoCal-based storyteller and head copywriter at Murad Skincare. She's shaped the voice of some of the most recognized beauty brands in the business, has a penchant for sharing homemade cookies, and believes SPF is the secret to getting carded well into your 40s.
