Why Giving 100 Percent in a Job Is Not Sustainable

Just last night, while I was making my nightly cup of tea, I noticed my painting materials collecting dust in the bottom cabinet of my tea corner. It’s been a month since I last painted, and believe me, I’m the happiest when I’m creating art. (Case in point: during Christmas break, I painted almost every day.)

Then a realization hit me: why have I not been doing things that make me undeniably happy? What’s stopping me? Well, I have a full-time job, I whispered to myself, which honestly sounded less like a rant, and more defensive…or maybe an excuse. 

The truth is, I could still incorporate my hobbies into my routine if I wanted to. Physically, it’s possible. But mentally? That’s a different story. I’m too drained to even set up my art space. 

If it’s a work-from-home day, all I have the mental capacity for is doomscrolling on TikTok or bedrotting with my emotional support dog. If it’s an office day, all I have the mental bandwidth for is sleep. Period.

One of the culprits of this “so-tired” mindset? I genuinely love my job. I care deeply about what I do. I try to give it my all.

While on the surface, it sounds positive–our culture, after all, rewards career productivity–it might be doing more harm to my health than I thought. Somewhere along the way, giving my all started taking everything.

And I’m starting to realize that this isn’t just a “me” problem.

When work becomes identity

Hustle culture makes us believe our identity and worth are tied to our jobs. If you meet someone new, chances are one of the first questions you’ll  ask each other is: What do you do for a living? 

It makes sense. Our jobs occupy most of our waking hours. A typical full-time work week already takes around 45 hours–more if you include commuting (and if you live in the Philippines, you know that takes a huge chunk), overtime, or the mental load we carry home with us.

And so, almost everyone’s identity is tied to their job…and this is stressing us out more than we realize. 

Filipino workers, in particular, are facing a mental health crisis quietly unfolding in homes and workplaces. In 2024, MindNation conducted an online survey among 13,158 Filipino employees. 

Results? Stress and anxiety are at record highs, with 79% reporting mental health struggles–feelings of stress, worry, sadness, and emptiness on the rise. The main reason cited is financial pressure, followed by job-related challenges including pressure to perform at work, the difficulties of juggling work and family responsibilities, and job insecurity.

“What we’re seeing is not just burnout. It’s a mental health crisis quietly unfolding inside homes and workplaces,” Cat Triviño, co-founder and chief product and data officer of MindNation, told Allure Philippines in a previous interview.

Licensed psychologist Eiza Fusingan-Lapay, RPsy, chief well-being officer of MindNation, adds that the Filipino worker is constantly juggling multiple roles. “We’re not just the worker, but we’re also the caregiver, and we’re also the breadwinner,” she says. 

You’re an employee. A daughter. A partner. A parent. A provider. A friend. A support system. Energy gets distributed across all the roles we play until there’s nothing left for leisure. 

Let’s do the math: if you give only 50 percent of your energy to your job, the remaining 50 percent still has to be spread thin across other roles. Now, imagine giving 100 percent to your job–does that sound sustainable for a lifetime? 

Often, we leave little to no time for other important non-work priorities, let alone creativity, hobbies, or simple joys.

How do we fix this?

For years, we’ve been told to aim for work-life balance, as if life can be neatly divided into two equal halves. But that idea assumes we can separate work from the rest of our existence. Most of us can’t.

Instead of “work-life balance”, Fusingan-Lapay suggests thinking in terms of “work-life integration,” which blends responsibilities in a “flexible, harmonious” way rather than trying to split time equally between “work” and “life.” 

Fusingan-Lapay also emphasizes building a support system: a friend, family member, or professional. Because “fears that are shared are more likely to diminish,” she says.

The importance of self-care also cannot be understated. This includes letting your body rest and recover, which can be achieved through good sleep, nutrition, movement, and relaxation. 

Stretching, short walks, breathing exercises, meditation, or any activity that restores inner calm are also tools to keep your mental and physical health in check.

You can still prioritize joy.

The lesson I’ve learned (and the reason I’m finally taking out my painting materials again) is that work should not consume every ounce of our mental and emotional energy. You can still give enough to work while preserving space for what brings you joy, whether that’s art, family, fitness, or simply downtime with your pets.

Fusingan-Lapay emphasizes that connection and community even in the workplace are key. “To maintain mental wellness in the workplace setting, it’s really important to build that culture of connectedness, empathy, and collective responsibility,” she shares. “It’s important that the workplace is a space where each person is not just a mere worker, but where our lives are interconnected. This could lead to even greater productivity and innovation in the workplace.”

So, maybe tomorrow, I’ll make time for painting again. Maybe tomorrow, you’ll take the moment to breathe, to rest, or to do the thing that reminds you that life exists beyond the office (and can exist within it too).

Doing well at your job is admirable, and wanting to do meaningful work is not wrong, but giving all your life to it is not and will never be sustainable.