Update: I mistook constant busyness for stability until my anxiety spiked
For years, I wore my packed schedule as a badge of honor, not seeing how it was eroding my mental health. The warning sign was when I started having panic attacks over minor decisions, like what to make for dinner. I finally connected the dots after journaling and noticing every entry was about time pressure and never feeling 'done.' Why do we equate being busy with being okay? I implemented strict work-life boundaries, literally scheduling downtime, and the change was profound. My sleep improved, and the constant background dread faded. If you're justifying exhaustion as normal, please step back and assess what you're really tolerating.