• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Commentarymental health

The latest productivity mantra that we all need: ‘Achieve less’

By
Manisha Thakor
Manisha Thakor
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Manisha Thakor
Manisha Thakor
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 16, 2023, 8:44 AM ET
Workplaces are splurging on wellness benefits–but worker burnout is on the rise.
Workplaces are splurging on wellness benefits–but worker burnout is on the rise.Bloomberg - Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

On the surface, it would appear that the modern worker is the lucky beneficiary of a wellness-at-work revolution. A global study by Aon in partnership with Ipsos, conducted in 2022-2023 found that 83% of companies have a specific “wellness strategy,” a whopping 28% increase from 2020. Yet more than 40% of us feel burned out at work, according to a 2022 global Future Forum survey.

Wellness at work isn’t actually working, because your employer cannot fix this problem alone. Yes, they can give you some very useful self-care tools and opportunities. But let’s be honest: These are band-aids. While they absolutely can help lessen the symptoms of burnout, they cannot solve the core problem of burnout because they do not address the root cause. Only you can do that.

Take that vacation and clear your head

Bonus points if you make it through without checking your devices. As simple as it may seem, a true vacation will require you to go against the culturally accepted demands of hustle culture and the internal pressures we put on ourselves to work more, earn more, and do more.

For many of us, work is so inextricably linked to our sense of self and self-worth that it’s incredibly hard to step away from our desks. A recent Pew Research study found that only 48% of American workers take off all the paid vacation time their employer provides.

We feel intense pressure to generate, produce, and keep up. But time away from work actually brings a huge return on investment in the form of creative and productive energy. Honor vacation time.

Take time to think about what is really driving your relationship with work

Are you burned out because you have become a workaholic? Or are you just really engaged with your work? If you love your job but you are still able to shut down your computer and disconnect (to really cease thinking and talking about work when you are not at work), then you are experiencing healthy work engagement. Good for you, carry on.

Workaholism, however, is a much deeper problem. Last year, in the course of writing a book about these issues, I sent a nonscientific survey to my newsletter subscribers and asked them to write down the very first feelings and impressions that came to mind when they thought of the phrase “Never enough.”

In just 24 hours, I had more than 100 responses, many of them heartbreaking. Here is a small handful:

  • I feel lacking in some way no matter what I do.
  • I work more and longer to be enough.
  • I think of the young girl inside of me that doesn’t always think she belongs and is different from everyone else.
  • Not good enough, endless striving.
  • There is always something else I can do, perfection doesn’t exist, the game never finishes.

The inability to disconnect from work has multifaceted roots. For some of us, the addiction is driven by “small-t” traumas–painful experiences from our youth that impact our behavior as adults. For others, social and cultural pressures make us feel as if we must work more than is reasonably necessary in order to measure up and prove our worth.

In my case, it was a mix of all of the above. Taking the time to understand the unique combination of forces shaping your professional behavior enables you to create a new, healthier relationship with work–and a happier life.

Achieve less 

Now that you’ve taken a break and worked on the root causes of your problem, it’s time to embrace a whole new mindset around work, money, and success. This is going to sound radical, but I want you to give yourself permission to achieve less.

Most people I know are horrified by this idea. So let me be clear: I don’t mean that your entire life is now all about hanging out on a hammock on the beach. It’s more about heeding the words of author Elizabeth Gilbert, who reminds us: “You are not a Fortune 500 company. You don’t have to show increasing profits.”

When you decide to achieve less, you are allowing yourself a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect. Sometimes that means if you’re traveling, going to meetings, and dealing with clients, you can give yourself permission to achieve less the next day. If you’ve got a sick child or a spouse who needs a little more emotional care, maybe you can put aside work for the rest of the afternoon to just be present with them. Grant yourself permission to achieve less for the rest of the day. And yes, in some cases the secret to reclaiming your life will be applying this “achieve less” mentality in a tactical, long-term manner to the way you approach your professional and personal life. 

I recognize that many people cannot take even one day off without facing financial challenges. But just as we might need time off to recover from the flu or a significant medical procedure, we need some time and space to recover from behaviors around work that no longer serve us. Strategically applying an “achieve less” mentality can help you to reclaim your life.

Manisha Thakor has worked in financial services for more than 30 years, with an emphasis on women’s economic empowerment. Her latest book is MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your “Enough.” 

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

More must-read commentary published by Fortune:

  • Ripple v. SEC: Why the crypto industry may have celebrated too early
  • America turned to hospital-at-home programs during the pandemic–but their stunning success calls for a permanent fix
  • ‘The Feckless 400’: These companies are still doing business in Russia–and funding Putin’s war
  • Daniel Lubetzky: ‘You can’t make big ESG commitments while failing at the basics of kindness’
About the Author
By Manisha Thakor
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Commentary

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Commentary

sb
Commentaryclimate change
The climate policy triangle: why leaders can no longer choose between growth, security and sustainability
By Sebastian BuckupJune 23, 2026
10 hours ago
brett
CommentaryManagement
Middle managers aren’t going extinct—they’re evolving into something more powerful
By Brett HurtJune 23, 2026
19 hours ago
ravi
CommentaryAI agents
Yale School of Management: surveillance pricing is just the beginning. AI agents will be the real test of corporate trust
By Ravi Dhar and Jon IwataJune 23, 2026
20 hours ago
elon
CommentaryElon Musk
Elon Musk’s trillion dollars aren’t real — and that’s the point
By Douglas P. McCormickJune 23, 2026
20 hours ago
gen z
CommentaryCareers
Gen Z: if you want to succeed at work, you need to start friction-maxxing
By Michelle SobelJune 23, 2026
21 hours ago
rp
CommentaryLaw
Cooley CEO: Big Law won’t survive if it treats AI as just an efficiency tool
By Rachel ProffittJune 23, 2026
21 hours ago

Most Popular

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
19 hours ago
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
Banking
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
By Jim EdwardsJune 23, 2026
22 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
19 hours ago
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
Investing
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
By Nick LichtenbergJune 22, 2026
2 days ago
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
3 days ago
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
Real Estate
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
By Sydney LakeJune 22, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.