In India, working long hours, skipping meals, and sacrificing personal life for work is often seen as a badge of honour. People take pride in chugging cups of coffee to stay awake through the night, working on tight deadlines, and pushing their limits in the name of productivity. Many wear their exhaustion like a trophy, expecting others to follow suit. But this glorification of overwork comes at a heavy price.
Sayali Raut, who works at the Founder’s Office at Encuba in Mumbai, recently shared a cautionary tale on LinkedIn. In her post, she detailed how neglecting her health led to a nearly two-month-long hospitalization, and mounting medical bills, for which she was forced to pause her life.
“Almost two months in the hospital. Still on bed rest. Piled-up medical bills. This is what neglecting my health cost me. I never thought a few ignored symptoms could turn my life upside down. It wasn’t just the physical struggle; it was the realization that I had put everything else before my well-being until my body forced me to stop,” she wrote.
She emphasized the importance of listening to one’s body and added:
“If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s this: your health is non-negotiable. No amount of success, money, or ambition is worth sacrificing it.”
She urged other professionals to listen to their bodies, take a break and a medical check-up when needed and not ignore the signs their bodies and minds are trying to give them.
“So here’s my reminder to you—listen to your body, get that checkup, take that break, eat healthy and don’t ignore the signs. Because trust me, prevention is always better than the price you pay later,” she wrote, concluding her post.
Have a look at her post here:
Her powerful message was a wake-up call for many, as her post started gaining attention on the platform. Several users responded with their own experiences of neglecting their health for work, only to regret it later.
Health over work, always!