Some time ago, when I was moving to another department, I told my new manager that I don't work after 6 PM. Yes, I admit, having a child makes it much easier to justify that statement. But I understood then that I quickly burn out when I start breaking the boundaries between work and personal life, and I become unproductive. To which he said: "How so? Those who don't work overtime don't grow!"
I didn't argue. Because I perfectly understand that many managers indeed put work at the forefront of life. And that's okay! For them.
Over time, I grew, but I chose horizontal growth, expert growth. And at some point, I realized that I began to treat people with more respect who understand themselves and know what they want. Even if they don't aspire to become a manager. Because their choice is based on their personal values. And everyone's are different.

Choosing horizontal growth, I relied on developing personal and professional qualities that allow me to deepen my expertise, on the absence of responsibility for other people, on peace and certainty, on the ability not to work evenings and weekends. Because it's important for me to maintain emotional stability (for me, overload is stress - stress is constant anxiety), to switch off and rest, to spend time with my child and family, to pursue my hobbies. And these priorities have changed with age, development, family and financial situation, etc. But I can definitely say, knowing my values, it's easier to make decisions in any area. Buying an apartment? A family person relying on safety, health, and children's development will choose a completely different area than a single businessman who is constantly traveling and for whom living in the center is more important than having a closed courtyard and a green park under the window.
And so it is in everything.

#reflections