When your health forces you to rethink everything about work

Do you ever feel like you can just keep pushing through… until one day you can’t anymore?

For a long time, that was me.

I was diagnosed with endometriosis at 18 after my first laparoscopy, and more recently with adenomyosis. Over the last year and a half, as stress in other areas of my life increased, particularly at work, my symptoms became significantly worse. The pain, the fatigue, the exhaustion. But more than anything, it was the constant feeling of being overwhelmed while still trying to show up, perform, and push through.

What people didn’t see was what that actually felt like.

Waking up already exhausted. Trying to concentrate through pain. Feeling mentally foggy but still expected to perform at a high level. Telling myself “just get through today” on repeat. Carrying a quiet sense of frustration that my body was not keeping up with the expectations I had of myself.

And yet, I kept going.

Knowing something isn’t right… and still pushing anyway

Part of me knew this wasn’t sustainable.

There were moments where I could feel it. The exhaustion that didn’t go away. The pain that kept building. The sense that I was running on empty.

But I ignored it.

I told myself it was just a busy period. That I could push through. That I just needed to get on top of things.

So I worked more. Took on more. Stayed in environments that demanded more than I could sustainably give. I kept proving myself, showing up, achieving, delivering.

From the outside, I was functioning.

On the inside, I was slowly burning out.

The moment everything catches up with you

Now, almost two weeks post-surgery after having another laparoscopy to remove endometriosis, I have had the space to stop, reflect, and really see what this has cost me.

Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

The constant pushing. The ignoring. The overriding of what my body needed.

It does not just disappear. It builds.

And eventually, it catches up with you.

You can’t outwork your body

For a long time, I thought I could manage it all. That I could keep pushing, keep working, keep showing up no matter what.

But your body does not negotiate.

It will whisper at first. Fatigue. Discomfort. Small signs that something is not right.

If you ignore it, it gets louder. Pain. Exhaustion. Burnout.

Eventually, it forces you to stop.

You cannot outwork your body. You cannot override it with willpower, ambition, or responsibility. At some point, it will make the decision for you.

What this made me realise about work

This experience has completely shifted how I see work.

There are things that used to feel important that no longer do.

Overworking. Proving myself. Pushing through at all costs. Staying in environments that take more than they give. Tying my identity to what I do.

I can see now how much I was giving, and how little I was questioning whether it was sustainable.

The cost was not just long hours. It was my energy. My health. My ability to be present in my own life.

That version of work is no longer something I am willing to accept.

What matters now is very different.

My health. My energy. My wellbeing. My family and friends. Meaning in what I do, without it costing me everything else.

What people don’t see

One of the hardest parts of living and working with conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis is that so much of it is invisible.

What people see is someone who is capable, reliable, and performing.

What they don’t see is the pain, the fatigue, and the mental load of managing it all.

I became very good at masking it. Smiling when I didn’t feel okay. Showing up when I should have been resting. Meeting expectations while quietly struggling.

At times, even the people closest to me could not fully see what I was going through. It can feel like you are silently carrying something heavy, while the world continues to expect the same version of you.

That gap between how you appear and how you actually feel is exhausting to carry.

When your identity is tied to being “high performing”

I have always seen myself as reliable. A high achiever. Someone who delivers.

But this experience has made me question that identity.

When your sense of self is built on always showing up, always performing, always pushing, it becomes very hard to step back, even when you need to. You start to believe that your value comes from what you produce, not who you are.

Letting go of that is not easy.

There is a part of you that worries about what happens if you slow down. If you say no. If you are no longer the person who can always take on more.

I am still figuring this out. But what I do know is this: I no longer owe my health and wellbeing to my work.

Redefining what success looks like

Success looks very different to me now.

It is no longer about how much I can take on, how much I can achieve, or how hard I can push myself.

It is about having work that feels meaningful, while also having the energy, peace, and capacity to live my life outside of it.

It is about balance. Calm. Sustainability.

It is about being able to show up not just at work, but in my own life.

The shifts I am making

This is not just a mindset shift. It requires real, practical change.

I am learning to:

• Set clearer boundaries around what I can and cannot take on, even when it feels uncomfortable

• Be honest about what I can sustainably manage, not what I wish I could handle

• Reassess what I actually need financially, and separate that from the pressure to always want more

• Prioritise rest and recovery, not treat it as something I earn

• Notice early signs like constant fatigue, irritability, or feeling overwhelmed, and respond sooner

• Choose environments that support my wellbeing, not erode it

These are not easy changes, especially when you are used to operating at a certain level. But they are necessary.

How to start rethinking your relationship with work

If your health or circumstances are forcing you to pause, it can feel overwhelming to know what to do next.

Start small.

Look at what is within your control right now. Where can you create even a small amount of space or relief? That might be setting a clearer boundary around your time, saying no to something that is stretching you too far, or allowing yourself to rest without guilt.

Be honest about what you can realistically sustain. Not at your best, but consistently. Build your expectations around that.

It may also mean adjusting the practical side of your life. Rethinking what you actually need financially, or what trade-offs you are willing to make to protect your health.

Most importantly, start responding earlier. When your body gives you signals, listen. Do not wait until you are forced to stop.

Small, intentional changes can begin to shift the way you work into something that supports you, rather than depletes you.

If you are in this place too

If you are dealing with a health condition, or any life circumstance that is taking a toll on you, I want you to hear this clearly.

You only have one body.

And it will keep trying to get your attention until you listen.

If you are constantly exhausted, pushing through illness, feeling overwhelmed more often than not, or noticing that your health is declining, these are not things to ignore. These are signals.

Do not wait until you are forced to stop. Do not let work take your health and wellbeing from you. No job is worth that cost.

You are allowed to change how you work.

You are allowed to set boundaries.

You are allowed to choose yourself.

Even if it feels uncomfortable. Even if it feels unfamiliar.

A different way forward

You can rebuild your career. You can change direction. You can find new opportunities.

But you cannot replace your health.

If something in you is telling you that the way you are working is not sustainable, listen to it. That awareness is not weakness. It is insight.

The next step is not to have everything figured out. It is simply to start.

That might look like taking a step back and asking yourself what you actually need from work now, not what you used to want, not what others expect, but what feels realistic and supportive for your life and your health.

It might mean having honest conversations about your capacity, exploring different types of roles or environments, or giving yourself permission to slow down while you figure things out.

You do not have to navigate that process alone.

Sometimes having space to talk things through, reflect, and make sense of what has changed can make a significant difference. Not because someone else has the answers, but because they can help you see things more clearly.

There is no one “right” path forward. But there is a version of work that will better support you, your health, and your life as it is now.

You do not need to wait for a breaking point to start moving towards it.

Because at the end of the day, work is only one part of your life.

And it should never cost you your health or wellbeing.