I_PNP recently_AV0 fired_VVD my_DPS first-ever_AJ0 direct_AJ0 report_NN1 ._SENT Although_CJS he_PNP was_VBD low-energy_AJ0 ,_PUN uninspired_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC an_AT0 awful_AJ0 speller_NN1 ,_PUN what_DTQ ultimately_AV0 led_VVD him_PNP to_PRP the_AT0 ax_NN1 was_VBD his_DPS insistence_NN1 on_PRP boundaries_NN2 ._SENT 
He_PNP would_VM0 come_VVI into_PRP the_AT0 office_NN1 at_PRP nine_CRD every_AT0 morning_NN1 ,_PUN leave_VVB at_PRP five_CRD ,_PUN and_CJC be_VBI inaccessible_AJ0 anytime_NN1 before_AV0 and_CJC after_AV0 ._SENT Regardless_AV0 of_PRF deadlines_NN2 or_CJC passion_NN1 projects_NN2 ,_PUN his_DPS workday_NN1 was_VBD determined_VVN not_XX0 by_PRP his_DPS work_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC by_PRP his_DPS hours_NN2 ._SENT 
The_AT0 concept_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ work_NN1 /_PUN life_NN1 balance_NN1 "_PUQ is_VBZ so_AV0 ubiquitous_AJ0 nowadays_AV0 that_CJT businesses_NN2 erect_VVB culture_NN1 committees_NN2 to_TO0 make_VVI sure_AJ0 the_AT0 idea_NN1 is_VBZ enforced_VVN ;_PUN HR_NN0 departments_NN2 are_VBB instructed_VVN to_TO0 add_VVI the_AT0 phrase_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 end_NN1 of_PRF job_NN1 postings_NN2 in_PRP an_AT0 effort_NN1 to_TO0 communicate_VVI a_AT0 culture_NN1 not_XX0 only_AV0 of_PRF hard_AJ0 work_NN1 but_CJC of_PRF good_AJ0 life_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP 's_VHZ become_VVN emblematic_AJ0 of_PRF a_AT0 woke_VVD work_NN1 environment_NN1 —_PUN one_PNI that_CJT acknowledges_VVZ that_CJT an_AT0 employee_NN1 base_NN1 is_VBZ composed_VVN of_PRF actual_AJ0 humans_NN2 ,_PUN often_AV0 with_PRP spouses_NN2 ,_PUN children_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC outside_AJ0 interests_NN2 ._SENT 
The_AT0 idea_NN1 of_PRF balance_NN1 has_VHZ always_AV0 had_VHN a_AT0 firm_AJ0 foothold_NN1 in_PRP human_AJ0 ideals_NN2 ._SENT Our_DPS diets_NN2 ,_PUN checkbooks_NN2 ,_PUN relationships_NN2 are_VBB all_DT0 areas_NN2 in_PRP which_DTQ we_PNP strive_VVB to_TO0 find_VVI harmony_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC the_AT0 term_NN1 "_PUQ work_NN1 /_PUN life_NN1 balance_NN1 "_PUQ as_CJS we_PNP know_VVB it_PNP became_VVD its_DPS own_DT0 philosophy_NN1 only_AV0 recently_AV0 ._SENT 
Careers_NN2 in_PRP industries_NN2 like_PRP law_NN1 ,_PUN medicine_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC architecture_NN1 established_VVN reputations_NN2 early_AJ0 on_PRP as_AV0 high-powered_AJ0 and_CJC rigorous_AJ0 ,_PUN their_DPS demanding_AJ0 hours_NN2 and_CJC high-stakes_NN2 deadlines_NN2 epitomizing_VVG corporate_AJ0 success_NN1 and_CJC creating_VVG associations_NN2 between_PRP time_NN1 spent_VVD working_AJ0 and_CJC professional_AJ0 satisfaction_NN1 ._SENT Having_VHG to_TO0 work_VVI late_AJ0 or_CJC pull_VVB an_AT0 all-nighter_NN1 demonstrated_VVN employees_NN2 '_POS value_NN1 and_CJC implied_VVD their_DPS commitment_NN1 to_PRP their_DPS careers_NN2 ._SENT 
Fast-forward_AJ0 to_PRP the_AT0 2010s_CRD ,_PUN or_CJC the_AT0 unofficial_AJ0 advent_NN1 of_PRF Hustle_NN1 Culture_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 recession_NN1 was_VBD in_PRP full_AJ0 swing_NN1 ,_PUN millennials_NN2 were_VBD entering_VVG the_AT0 workforce_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 digital_AJ0 space_NN1 gifted_AJ0 tech_NN1 giants_NN2 like_PRP Elon_NP0 Musk_NP0 and_CJC Adam_NP0 Neumann_NP0 an_AT0 unprecedented_AJ0 public_AJ0 forum_NN1 to_TO0 broadcast_VVI their_DPS prolific_AJ0 work_NN1 ethic_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 wealth_NN1 that_CJT resulted_VVD ._SENT A_AT0 hunger_NN1 percolated_VVD —_PUN work_VVB for_PRP work_NN1 's_POS sake_NN1 —_PUN and_CJC as_CJS millennials_NN2 graduated_VVD and_CJC began_VVD their_DPS careers_NN2 ,_PUN they_PNP were_VBD guided_VVN by_PRP two_CRD values_NN2 :_PUN a_AT0 laser-focused_AJ0 desire_NN1 to_TO0 do_VDI what_DTQ they_PNP love_VVB ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 misconception_NN1 that_CJT doing_VDG what_DTQ they_PNP loved_VVD meant_VVD working_VVG all_DT0 the_AT0 time_NN1 ._SENT 
Success_NN1 to_PRP these_DT0 young_AJ0 people_NN0 was_VBD more_AV0 contingent_AJ0 on_PRP hard_AJ0 work_NN1 than_CJS it_PNP was_VBD on_PRP salary_NN1 ._SENT There_EX0 was_VBD pride_NN1 in_PRP time_NN1 investment_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS it_PNP was_VBD regarded_VVN as_PRP a_AT0 necessary_AJ0 step_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 construction_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 dream_NN1 ._SENT Additionally_AV0 ,_PUN with_PRP the_AT0 uptick_NN1 in_PRP freelancers_NN2 ,_PUN contract_NN1 employees_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC nascent_AJ0 entrepreneurs_NN2 ,_PUN time_NN1 directly_AV0 corresponded_VVN to_PRP money_NN1 made_VVN —_PUN if_CJS you_PNP were_VBD n't_XX0 hustling_VVG ,_PUN you_PNP were_VBD n't_XX0 making_VVG money_NN1 ._SENT 
Toxic_AJ0 productivity_NN1 ,_PUN or_CJC the_AT0 belief_NN1 that_CJT too_AV0 much_DT0 is_VBZ never_AV0 enough_AV0 ,_PUN led_VVD many_DT0 to_TO0 forgo_VVI their_DPS social_AJ0 lives_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 pursuit_NN1 of_PRF overextension_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS it_PNP was_VBD becoming_VVG increasingly_AV0 popular_AJ0 to_TO0 overschedule_VVI oneself_PNX ,_PUN making_VVG the_AT0 hustle_NN1 less_AV0 about_PRP ambitions_NN2 and_CJC more_AV0 about_PRP optics_NN1 ._SENT 
Enterprises_NN2 like_PRP Google_NP0 and_CJC Amazon_NP0 fed_VVD off_AVP this_DT0 frenetic_AJ0 energy_NN1 and_CJC based_VVD their_DPS entire_AJ0 corporate_AJ0 model_NN1 around_PRP it_PNP ,_PUN spending_VVG billions_CRD of_PRF dollars_NN2 renovating_VVG their_DPS offices_NN2 to_TO0 create_VVI a_AT0 distinctly_AV0 homelike_AJ0 environment_NN1 ,_PUN blurring_VVG the_AT0 lines_NN2 further_AV0 between_PRP home_NN1 and_CJC work_NN1 ._SENT Meals_NN2 were_VBD catered_VVN ._SENT Gyms_NN2 and_CJC recreational_AJ0 opportunities_NN2 were_VBD on-site_AJ0 ._SENT Some_DT0 offices_NN2 even_AV0 contained_VVN bedrooms_NN2 ._SENT Too_AV0 late_AJ0 to_TO0 go_VVI home_AV0 ?_SENT Just_AV0 sleep_VVB at_PRP the_AT0 office_NN1 ._SENT No_AT0 time_NN1 to_TO0 pick_VVI up_AVP groceries_NN2 ?_SENT Have_VHB an_AT0 early_AJ0 breakfast_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 office_NN1 ._SENT Work_VVB while_CJS you_PNP eat_VVB ._SENT 
Predictably_AV0 ,_PUN this_DT0 was_VBD n't_XX0 a_AT0 sustainable_AJ0 practice_NN1 ,_PUN though_CJS it_PNP took_VVD highly_AV0 visible_AJ0 CEOs_NN2 and_CJC entrepreneurs_NN2 to_TO0 start_VVI the_AT0 process_NN1 of_PRF destigmatizing_AJ0 burnout_NN1 ._SENT Around_PRP 2012_CRD ,_PUN Susan_NP0 Packard_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 business_NN1 brains_NN2 behind_PRP popular_AJ0 channels_NN2 like_PRP CNBC_NP0 ,_PUN HGTV_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC Food_NN1 Network_NN1 ,_PUN turned_VVD down_AVP the_AT0 opportunity_NN1 to_TO0 be_VBI CEO_NN1 to_TO0 spend_VVI more_DT0 time_NN1 with_PRP her_DPS son_NN1 ,_PUN claiming_VVG that_CJT she_PNP "_PUQ needed_VVD to_TO0 stop_VVI at_PRP No._NN1 2_CRD if_CJS [_PUL she_PNP ]_PUR wanted_VVD any_DT0 work_NN1 /_PUN life_NN1 balance_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Matthew_NP0 Cooper_NP0 ,_PUN CEO_NN1 of_PRF EarnUp_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 financial_AJ0 technology_NN1 platform_NN1 ,_PUN stepped_VVD down_AVP in_PRP 2020_CRD when_AVQ he_PNP announced_VVD he_PNP 'd_VHD been_VBN dealing_VVG with_PRP mental_AJ0 health_NN1 issues_NN2 exacerbated_VVN by_PRP his_DPS demanding_AJ0 role_NN1 ._SENT 
In_PRP 2019_CRD ,_PUN the_AT0 corporate_AJ0 world_NN1 witnessed_VVD a_AT0 historic_AJ0 high_AJ0 in_PRP CEO_NN1 turnovers_NN2 ,_PUN reaching_VVG a_AT0 whopping_AJ0 1_CRD ,_PUN 332_CRD —_PUN a_AT0 figure_NN1 13_CRD %_NN0 higher_AJC than_CJS the_AT0 preceding_AJ0 year_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 highest_AJS number_NN1 since_PRP the_AT0 career-transition_NN1 and_CJC executive_NN1 coaching_NN1 firm_NN1 Challenger_NN1 ,_PUN Gray_NP0 &_NP0 Christmas_NN1 ,_PUN began_VVD tracking_AJ0 CEO_NN1 departures_NN2 in_PRP 2002._CRD The_AT0 ranks_NN2 expanded_VVN in_PRP 2021_CRD to_TO0 include_VVI leaders_NN2 like_PRP fashion_NN1 entrepreneur_NN1 Kendra_NP0 Scott_NP0 ,_PUN Jeff_NP0 Bezos_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC Reshma_NP0 Saujani_NP0 of_PRF Girls_NN2 Who_PNQ Code_VVB ,_PUN when_CJS the_AT0 pandemic_AJ0 enlightened_AJ0 many_DT0 to_PRP the_AT0 joys_NN2 of_PRF a_AT0 world_NN1 without_PRP travel_NN1 and_CJC office_NN1 work_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC introduced_VVD a_AT0 slower_AJC routine_NN1 that_CJT centered_VVD around_PRP the_AT0 home_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 pendulum_NN1 swings_VVZ against_PRP workaholism_NN1 
As_CJS it_PNP became_VVD increasingly_AV0 common_AJ0 for_PRP high-ranking_AJ0 businesspeople_NN1 to_TO0 leave_VVI their_DPS careers_NN2 ,_PUN the_AT0 pendulum_NN1 began_VVD swinging_VVG in_PRP the_AT0 opposite_AJ0 direction_NN1 ._SENT Soon_AV0 ,_PUN a_AT0 full_AJ0 rejection_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 workaholism_NN1 that_CJT had_VHD drained_VVN so_AV0 many_DT0 went_VVD into_PRP effect_NN1 ._SENT As_CJS people_NN0 were_VBD given_VVN permission_NN1 to_TO0 feel_VVI overwhelmed_VVN ,_PUN they_PNP drew_VVD a_AT0 stark_AJ0 line_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 sand_NN1 between_PRP their_DPS home_NN1 lives_NN2 and_CJC their_DPS work_NN1 lives_VVZ ._SENT 
For_PRP many_DT0 ,_PUN this_DT0 simply_AV0 meant_VVD not_XX0 doing_VDG work_NN1 during_PRP nights_NN2 or_CJC weekends_NN2 ._SENT For_PRP others_NN2 ,_PUN it_PNP became_VVD an_AT0 excuse_NN1 to_TO0 end_VVI the_AT0 day_NN1 mid-assignment_NN1 ,_PUN to_TO0 leave_VVI coworkers_NN2 hanging_VVG ,_PUN to_TO0 sit_VVI idly_AV0 until_PRP the_AT0 clock_NN1 struck_VVD 5_CRD :_PUN 00._CRD In_PRP essence_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP emboldened_VVD an_AT0 ugly_AJ0 mediocrity_NN1 ._SENT 
Just_AV0 like_PRP Hustle_NN1 Culture_NN1 ,_PUN what_DTQ started_VVD as_PRP a_AT0 reasonable_AJ0 endeavor_NN1 —_PUN the_AT0 healthy_AJ0 pursuit_NN1 of_PRF equity_NN1 in_PRP work_NN1 and_CJC life_NN1 —_PUN became_VVD distorted_AJ0 ,_PUN morphing_AJ0 into_PRP a_AT0 type_NN1 of_PRF compartmentalization_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC a_AT0 misguided_AJ0 entitlement_NN1 to_PRP a_AT0 workday_NN1 neatly_AV0 bookended_AJ0 ._SENT 
A_AT0 work_NN1 /_PUN life_NN1 balance_NN1 that_CJT truly_AV0 divides_VVZ the_AT0 work_NN1 and_CJC life_NN1 components_NN2 of_PRF a_AT0 person_NN1 's_POS experience_NN1 may_VM0 be_VBI okay_AJ0 for_PRP a_AT0 job_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC for_PRP a_AT0 career_NN1 ?_SENT It_PNP simply_AV0 wo_VM0 n't_XX0 fly_VVI ._SENT There_EX0 's_VBZ no_AV0 disputing_VVG it_PNP —_PUN sometimes_AV0 emails_NN2 need_VVB to_TO0 be_VBI sent_VVN at_PRP night_NN1 ._SENT Sometimes_AV0 calls_NN2 need_VVB to_TO0 be_VBI taken_VVN early_AV0 in_PRP the_AT0 morning_NN1 ._SENT Sometimes_AV0 a_AT0 Monday_NP0 deadline_NN1 necessitates_VVZ a_AT0 few_DT0 hours_NN2 of_PRF work_NN1 on_PRP a_AT0 Saturday_NP0 ._SENT 
And_CJC what_DTQ 's_VBZ more_AV0 ,_PUN this_DT0 "_PUQ balance_NN1 "_PUQ implies_VVZ a_AT0 strict_AJ0 tradeoff_NN1 between_PRP the_AT0 two_CRD constituent_NN1 parts_NN2 ,_PUN a_AT0 polarizing_AJ0 schedule_NN1 of_PRF on_AVP /_PUN off_AVP ._SENT At_PRP work_NN1 ,_PUN you_PNP 're_VBB all_DT0 on_AVP ._SENT After_PRP work_NN1 ,_PUN you_PNP 're_VBB all_DT0 off_AVP ._SENT But_CJC this_DT0 mindset_NN1 is_VBZ problematic_AJ0 in_PRP that_CJT it_PNP puts_VVZ an_AT0 undue_AJ0 amount_NN1 of_PRF pressure_NN1 on_PRP us_PNP to_TO0 be_VBI all_AV0 on_AVP when_CJS ,_PUN in_PRP reality_NN1 ,_PUN sometimes_AV0 we_PNP ca_VM0 n't_XX0 be_VBI ._SENT It_PNP also_AV0 bases_VVZ one_PNI 's_POS day_NN1 around_PRP an_AT0 arbitrary_AJ0 time_NN1 frame_NN1 that_CJT measures_VVZ productivity_NN1 by_PRP hours_NN2 spent_VVN behind_PRP a_AT0 desk_NN1 as_CJS opposed_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 actual_AJ0 work_NN1 product_NN1 put_VVD out_AVP ._SENT 
As_CJS Gen_NP0 Z_ZZ0 graduates_NN2 and_CJC enters_VVZ the_AT0 workforce_NN1 now_AV0 ,_PUN they_PNP (_PUL just_AV0 as_CJS their_DPS predecessors_NN2 did_VDD )_PUR are_VBB responding_VVG to_PRP the_AT0 current_AJ0 corporate_AJ0 climate_NN1 ._SENT Millennials_NP0 took_VVD the_AT0 hint_NN1 that_CJT overworking_NN1 was_VBD the_AT0 way_NN1 to_TO0 go_VVI (_PUL likely_AV0 influenced_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 Great_AJ0 Recession_NN1 )_PUR ;_PUN while_CJS Gen_NP0 Z_ZZ0 (_PUL which_DTQ is_VBZ graduating_VVG with_PRP record-high_AJ0 employment_NN1 )_PUR is_VBZ picking_VVG up_AVP on_PRP the_AT0 work_NN1 /_PUN life_NN1 divide_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC ,_PUN in_PRP my_DPS direct_AJ0 report_NN1 's_POS case_NN1 ,_PUN getting_VVG fired_VVN for_PRP their_DPS rigidity_NN1 ._SENT 
Our_DPS careers_NN2 are_VBB a_AT0 part_NN1 of_PRF our_DPS lives_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC try_VVB as_CJS we_PNP might_VM0 to_TO0 leave_VVI work_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 office_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 expectation_NN1 is_VBZ just_AV0 as_AV0 unrealistic_AJ0 as_CJS leaving_VVG home_AV0 at_PRP home_NN1 ._SENT Inevitably_AV0 ,_PUN sometimes_AV0 things_NN2 bleed_VVB into_PRP one_PNI another_DT0 ._SENT If_CJS we_PNP are_VBB at_PRP work_NN1 and_CJC receive_VVB a_AT0 phone_NN1 call_NN1 from_PRP our_DPS crying_NN1 child_NN1 ,_PUN would_VM0 we_PNP not_XX0 take_VVI it_PNP ?_SENT If_CJS we_PNP are_VBB in_PRP a_AT0 meeting_NN1 and_CJC discover_VVB there_EX0 is_VBZ a_AT0 leak_NN1 in_PRP our_DPS house_NN1 ,_PUN would_VM0 we_PNP not_XX0 rush_VVI out_AVP ?_SENT 
Work_NN1 /_PUN life_NN1 balance_NN1 is_VBZ reasonable_AJ0 to_TO0 ask_VVI of_PRF an_AT0 employer_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC we_PNP must_VM0 understand_VVI that_CJT balance_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX0 equate_VVI to_PRP separation_NN1 ._SENT 
