How have you been, everyone? This is Kim Nai, a career accelerator.

Recently, I’ve been feeling that time really files. Actually a new book ‘My Own Track,’ was released in January this year. I’ve been so busy promoting the book, working as a CSO, and keeping up with my usual job as a career accelerator that my days have been nonstop. 

One day, while heading home after a book talk, I found myself thinking, ‘At this rate, I might experience burnout syndrome.’ It’s said that burnout doesn’t come from working a lot, but from ‘only working’ a lot. How about you all? Besides work, do you have time to enjoy your own diverse hobbies and tastes? Do you manage to find brief moments for yourself? Today, I want to address the most common question I get at book talks and one-on-one career sessions: burnout, and discuss solutions.

Career Wellness Tip 1: Focus on ‘Choosing and Concentrating’ rather than Prioritizing

Those who come to me are generally very ambitious about their work. They often hear advice from those around them saying, ‘Why work so hard? The company won’t recognize your efforts anyway. Just focus on investing’ but many of them are determined to succeed in their careers.

When you want to do well at work, it naturally leads to longer working hours. Until you’ve built a certain level of expertise, there’s a necessary period, often referred to as ‘all one’s soul and might.’ I’ve been through this myself and still have such days. However, when I come home exhausted and spend most of the weekend sprawled out, I start to worry. Thoughts like ‘Is this really okay? Am I just becoming a pushover? Who will be responsible if I get burnout syndrome from working like this?’ begin to creep in. In times like these, I recommend taking a moment to pause and reflect on the path you are on.

If your ‘enthusiasm’ is to be effectively utilized, strategy is more important than simply working hard. You need to assess whether the work you’re currently doing is important, what the impact of that work is, who is affected by it, and whether it aligns with the direction of your company and your own professional goals.

So, I often prefer the phrase ‘choose and focus’ over ‘priorities.’ Typically, when you arrive at work, you sit at your office desk and write out your to-do list for the day, starting with the highest priorities. But if you look closer, this usually implies that you need to complete everything on the list, which means the work never ends. This can lead to burnout syndrome, and it’s very regrettable when someone has to quit their job for this reason. Choosing what you’re good at and focusing on more important tasks is essential for both your own well-being and your effectiveness at work.

If you still find that you have too much work, try analyzing your tasks based on ‘your growth and the company’s growth.’

The key point here is whether the work benefits both your personal growth and the company’s growth.

Discussing roles and responsibilities is not just about saying ‘your job’ and ‘my job’ and refusing to do what isn’t yours. Instead, it’s about considering whether you can excel at a task and evaluating whether it allows both you and your organization to grow together. I hope you realize that the quality of the work assets you retain depends on whether you work according to your standards and perspective.

Career Wellness Tip 2: Reflect on Your Organization and Environment

A few days ago, R came to me, expressing dissatisfaction with his job and life. Wanting to do one’s best isn’t wrong. However, the issue in his organization was that he was the only one working so hard, while others were not, and his efforts were taken for granted.

To avoid being exploited and to ensure you aren’t worn down by your work, it’s essential to evaluate whether your work environment allows your efforts to be properly expressed and utilized. Just as you examine how you spend your time at work and the tasks you undertake, it’s equally important to analyze if your organization effectively leverages your hard work.

I told him that in his company, ‘If you stay quiet, nobody is going to take care of you.’ It’s a bitter truth, but I believe his efforts will shine more in a place where he has colleagues who share the same vision. A healthy organization should not take one’s hard work for granted but should acknowledge and discuss further steps.

If you’re feeling burnout syndrome, take a look at your workplace environment. Is your hard work and effort being properly recognized? Is it a place where such recognition is possible? Do they acknowledge your hard work and dedication? How large is the intersection between your values and your company?

Career Wellness Tip 3: Setting Yourself as the Standard

More than anything, I think what really leads us to get burnout syndrome is the ‘more, more, more’ mentality driven by anxiety and restlessness. It seems that we are more prone to burnout when we seek gaining recognition from others rather than from ourselves.

Honestly, this is true for me as well. If I may confess to all of you, after publishing ‘My Own Track,’ I often found myself hoping that many people would read and buy the book, and wondering how those who read it perceived it. Instead of telling myself ‘I did well’ or ‘Good job on the manuscript,’ I constantly compared myself to others who seemed to be doing better, despite the book being a bestseller. I spent my time focusing solely on work, without any hobbies or breaks.

Then one day, I remembered the career wellness interviews I shared with you all. I realized that I couldn’t continue working this way if I wanted to maintain my health sustainably. It felt hypocritical.

If you want to achieve more and grow,

rather than comparing yourself to others or seeking recognition from them, consider how well you are using your time now compared to yesterday.

Think about what kind of person you will be in a year.

Reflect on how your current work methods are contributing to developing your ‘work muscles.’

Why not focus on yourself by asking and answering these questions?

Look at your work through the lens of your own standards, perspectives, and principles.

I hope you will take steps on your own track.

People who work well and love their jobs are particularly prone to burnout, but let’s manage our unique work rhythms well and sustain healthy work habits.

With that in mind, I’ll be right there with you.