We have always heard that work dignifies man. And, indeed, meaningful work can provide purpose, identity, and stability. But somewhere along the way, we’ve begun equating overwork with virtue, exhaustion with excellence, and burnout with badge-of-honor productivity. It’s a cultural shift that’s not just misguided, it’s dangerous.

In today’s hyper-connected world, a new trend has emerged among professionals across disciplines. Some wear their overwork like a medal, flooding social media feeds with pictures of papers, spreadsheets, packed calendars, and coffee cups accompanied by captions like “Third shift of the day,” “Who needs vacation?”, “Drowning in deadlines,” or “Running on caffeine and commitment.” What are they trying to say, that productivity equals worth? That pushing oneself to the limit signals professional passion? Or, more troublingly, that performative overwork is a requirement for being seen, appreciated, or retained in their role?

We need to ask: What kind of message are we promoting when we glorify this culture of exhaustion? There is a deep irony here. Those who publicly declare that they are overworked are often praised for their commitment. Yet, what they are truly revealing, whether they know it or not, is that they are operating in a system that incentivizes overextension, undervalues rest, and mistakes busyness for brilliance.

Let’s be clear: working hard is not the issue. Dedicating oneself to a goal or profession is not inherently harmful. The problem lies in bragging about overwork, normalizing the erasure of boundaries, and creating a culture where being perpetually overwhelmed is not only accepted but applauded.

Science has been unequivocal on the toll that excessive work takes on mental and physical health. In a systematic meta-review of work-related risk factors for common mental health problems, Harvey et al. (2017) found strong evidence linking certain job characteristics, like high job demands, low job control, and high effort-reward imbalance, to mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. In other words, working too much, particularly under poor psychosocial conditions, doesn't just feel bad—it makes people sick.

Further studies have linked long working hours and lack of recovery time to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, metabolic syndromes, and even mortality. Burnout, once dismissed as a temporary slump, is now recognized by the World Health Organization as an occupational phenomenon characterized by exhaustion, mental distance from one's job, and reduced professional efficacy. And yet, despite this growing body of evidence, overwork continues to be romanticized, especially in academic, corporate, and entrepreneurial circles, where productivity is often conflated with identity.

Social media platforms have added a layer of performance to the already toxic dynamic. Work is no longer confined to the office or laboratory; it is broadcast, curated, and consumed online. Posts highlighting sleepless nights, 16-hour workdays, or weekend marathons of productivity send the implicit message: "Look how dedicated I am." This creates an unspoken competition of who can suffer the most visibly and still smile about it.

But this performative exhaustion comes with serious social implications. It contributes to a culture of guilt among those who choose balance, fosters impostor syndrome among those who work normal hours, and sustains the myth that success is only possible through sacrifice of health and personal life.

Let’s not forget that many of these messages originate from people in relatively privileged positions—those who have a voice, visibility, and perceived security. The same culture may pressure junior professionals, students, and early-career workers into thinking that overworking themselves into illness is a necessary rite of passage.

Of course, the problem is not just individual, it is systemic. Institutions that reward visible busyness, penalize boundary-setting, or fail to address workloads that are unsustainable are complicit in the very burnout they claim to be combating. Academic environments, for instance, often function under the illusion of flexibility while silently demanding constant availability. Employers who preach “work-life balance” but measure performance in terms of hours logged rather than outcomes achieved send a clear message: rest is a liability.

The glorification of overwork isn’t a reflection of passion; it’s a symptom of dysfunctional work structures. When people feel the need to prove their worth by documenting their exhaustion, we should question not their resilience, but the systems that made such performance necessary in the first place.

It is time to rewrite the story we tell about work. We must stop equating burnout with success. We must stop pretending that chronic fatigue is noble. And we must certainly stop showcasing overwork as if it were a competitive sport. Instead, let’s normalize something truly radical: balance. Let’s value professionals who model healthy boundaries, who prioritize mental well-being, who deliver quality work without sacrificing themselves. Let’s appreciate those who know when to step back, who rest without apology, and who understand that creativity, insight, and innovation often emerge in stillness, not just in strain.

On social media, this means being mindful of the messages we send. Instead of humblebragging about exhaustion, let’s celebrate moments of restoration—walks in the park, time with loved ones, reading a book for pleasure. Let’s make it acceptable—even aspirational—to be whole, rested, and healthy. To those who feel compelled to perform overwork: you are not alone, and you are not to blame. You are navigating a culture that has equated self-worth with productivity for too long. But you deserve more than burnout. You deserve a work life that sustains you, not one that drains you.

To institutions and leaders: if your people feel that only visible suffering will earn them recognition or security, then your culture is broken. Fix it, not just with slogans, but with structures, policies, and a shift in values. Let’s stop bragging about working too much. Let’s start building systems, and lives, where we don’t have to choose between success and sanity.

Cited reference: Harvey SB, Modini M, Joyce S, Milligan-Saville JS, Tan L, Mykletun A, Bryant RA, Christensen H, Mitchell PB. Can work make you mentally ill? A systematic meta-review of work-related risk factors for common mental health problems. Occup Environ Med. 2017 Mar;74(4):301-310. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2016-104015