“Those who are wise won’t be busy, and those who are too busy can’t be wise.”
― Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living
Two weeks into the course there were repeated grumbles that the workload is too high – we don’t have time to complete all the tasks forget for other things. One professor responded with, quoting word for word,” People at IIM’s and ISB don’t sleep for more than 4 hours so if you are getting more than that: don’t complain. You need to put in the ‘hard work’ it’s an MBA degree after all. Welcome to B-School.” Other responses were along similar lines.
The management and academic team has since worked on improving the schedule for term 2 and given us the weekend off.
An industry expert advised us to never in an interview ask about work-life balance as in the corporate world there is none and if you care about it -they don’t want you. He went further and told us of a finalist who was about to be given a joining letter but wasn’t because of this very question.
That deeply problematic response still echoes in my head. Not because of his opinion or words but about how much of a norm it is – everyone talks of ‘hustle’, inspirational quotes along the lines of ‘when others are sleeping, successful people are working so their dreams can be a reality’.Please sleep.
Professionals slyly let it slip how they skipped a meal due to work, students boast of burning the midnight oil /pulling all-nighters. At one point or another, we’ve all done this, all too often sucked into this vortex of ‘important work’. We should be embarrassed. I’m learning to be. Let us all fight it together.
The perception around wearing yourself down to the bones is ingrained in a child when parents admit them into back-to-back tuitions, extra-curricular classes yet when the child wants a holiday or wants to go out two consecutive days it is bad. Didn’t you go out just yesterday? Without realizing we are imprinting onto the subconscious mind
Having fun = bad
relaxing= bad
working= good
overworking = great
Reversing this connection requires acknowledging it and putting in conscious efforts to do so. You are a human, not a machine. It’s not sustainable to over-work. In retrospect, over-working leads to higher wear and tear for machines too. The human equivalent of wear and tear would be heightened stress, poor physical shape and decline in physical & mental health.
It is not worth it – prioritize yourself.
If circumstances leave you with no choice but to prioritize work even then taking breaks, sleeping for more than 4 hours would, in fact, increase your learning/ productivity more than clocking long hours would. Yes, working is important but at the same time don’t let life pass you by. ‘Not spending time on things that truly matter’ is a very common death-bed regret
Giving it your all is misworded because you aren’t ‘giving it’ the more accurate way to word it would be ‘burning/exhausting your all “If this mindset shift, priority shift costs you a little – remember not doing it is costing you a lot more. Ask your interviewer ‘what is the work-life balance like’ (sorry prof and PlaCom )
You know what they say since time immemorial – all work and no play makes jack a dull boy.
In case you are curious about why the hamster runs on the hamster wheel – they need the exercise. A hamster wheel is an essential component of a hamster cage for them to remain healthy and happy. If you come to think of it the metaphor wasn’t very accurate because the humans running on the hamster wheel is maddening and harmful. Do they think they are getting somewhere? As per most hamster owners – Yes. They run a little and pause or look outside to see if they are somewhere else. No need to change the heading after all. Humans and hamsters are alike in their dumbness.
In conclusion- Does the hamster on the hamster wheel think its getting somewhere ? Maybe, we can’t be sure but the more important question is do the humans on the hamster wheel think they are getting somewhere?
Live a little – look around, exercise, spend time with yourself, with your family, breathe. A little poem to help forget the very humbling fact mentioned above and drive the point home.
“Busy with the ugliness of the expensive success
We forget the easiness of free beauty
Lying sad right around the corner,
Only an instant removed,
Unnoticed and squandered.”
― Dejan Stojanovic
Bhavna Chaudhary
Author & Wellness Enthusiast
