Gently question the identity you derive from your job and renegotiate its role in your life, especially if it leads to stress, burnout, or covers up emptiness outside of work.
Actively invest in non-work aspects of your life like relationships, spiritual life, family, or hobbies to create a diversified identity and multiple sources of meaning, making you more resilient and well-rounded.
Carve out time and actively engage in non-work pursuits, as acting yourself into better ways of thinking and doing things reinforces a diversified identity and meaning.
Subjectively define what a “good enough job” means for you (e.g., income, title, hours) and recognize it once achieved, then redirect energy from seeking a “perfect” job towards appreciating its role and investing in your life outside of work.
Establish intentional “sacred space” or “sacred time” for non-work activities by creating infrastructure (like joining a class or group) that structurally prevents you from working, ensuring dedicated time for other pursuits.
Counteract the tendency to optimize by embracing play (e.g., jamming, dancing, board games) that is grounded in present moment awareness and is an end in itself, rather than a means to future achievement or productivity.
Proactively define your desired relationship with work, rather than letting your employer dictate it, to align work with your values and vision for a well-lived life outside of it.
Prioritize rest and a sustainable, balanced approach to work before you experience burnout, as this proactive strategy leads to greater long-term productivity and effectiveness.
When diversifying your identity or starting non-work activities, begin with small, manageable steps (e.g., a jog instead of a marathon) rather than over-optimizing or planning grand, long-term goals.
Adopt the mantra “The work is not done, but it is time to stop” to help set boundaries and conclude your workdays, especially when working for yourself or on personal projects with infinite capacity for more work.