“How old are you?” I asked.
“42,” he said.
“What do you do for a living?”
“I used to work for one of the Big Fours. Now I’m retired.”
At 42?
Curious, I asked why.
“I couldn’t handle the #stress. I’ve lived with #depression for years.”

This wasn’t the first time I’d heard something like this.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen global business leaders glorify the 70- to 90-hour workweek.

They want the employees to relentlessly push the envelope, burn the midnight oil, and get the job done.

The bottom line is to meet the target and cross that ridiculous number on the balance sheet.

Work-life balance? That’s for the weak and soft. In today’s testosterone-charged corporate culture, #burnout is worn like a badge of honor.

Add to that the constant fear of being handed a pink slip or losing your job to the next round of cost cutting. Afraid to pause, employees are locked in a constant cycle of overwork and stress.

But here’s the truth we don’t want to hear:

Nearly 1 in 10 Indians live with depression, anxiety, or chronic stress.

Work-related stress is the leading cause of poor employee health.

It not only affects performance—it spills into families, communities, and long-term well-being.

Ten years ago, poor mental health was already costing companies an estimated $100 million annually. Imagine what that number looks like today.

Now add another layer— “obesity.”
Stress, long working hours, sleep deprivation, and poor food habits are all well-documented contributors to #weightgain.

Obesity, in turn, worsens mental health, increasing the risk of a dangerous vicious cycle.

And it doesn’t stop there. With rising obesity and stress levels, we are seeing a disturbing trend—an increase in early-onset #heartdisease.

Heart attacks in the 30s and 40s are no longer rare headlines; they’re becoming alarmingly common.

We often talk about performance, productivity, and passion—but not the price we pay for them.

It’s time we redefine what success truly means. Because no matter how impressive the balance sheet looks, it won’t matter if the numbers on your medical report are telling a different story.

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign we can no longer afford to ignore.

©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker

PS- The image is AI generated