In this episode of 'Her Career Her Way', Hazel Ann discusses the complexities of productivity, workaholism, and the importance of rest. She reflects on her personal experiences transitioning from a high-achieving internship to a period of downtime, exploring feelings of guilt associated with rest and the societal pressures surrounding productivity. Hazel Ann emphasises the need to reframe our understanding of productivity, recognising that rest is not a sign of laziness but a crucial component of creativity and personal growth. She offers practical solutions for achieving a balance between work and rest, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique career paths and the importance of self-reflection.

Works Cited

• Biwer, Felicitas, et al. “Understanding Effort Regulation: Comparing “Pomodoro” Breaks and Self‐Regulated Breaks.” British Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 93, no. S2, 2023, pp. 353–367, bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjep.12593, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12593.
• Dore, Madeleine. I Didn’t Do the Thing Today. Allen & Unwin, 5 Jan. 2022.
• Kreider, Tim. “The “Busy” Trap.” Opinionator, 30 June 2012, archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/.
• McKinsey & Company. “What Is Burnout? | McKinsey.” Www.mckinsey.com, 14 Aug. 2023, www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-burnout.
• Szigeti, Zara. “What’s the Verdict on Academic Guilt? Separating “Doing” from Productivity.” RehabINK | a World of Rehabilitation Research, Practice, and Advocacy, 8 June 2021, rehabinkmag.com/previous-issues/rehabink-summer-2020-volume-1-issue-9/whats-the-verdict-on-academic-guilt-separating-doing-from-productivity/.