The expert spoke about the impact of the "exploitative" syndrome on health

In modern conditions, the obsessive pursuit of career heights and constant professional growth becomes not only an incentive for development, but also a source of chronic stress that can undermine health. Gulnara Orlova, Director of Insurance Products and Customer Experience Development at Rosgosstrakh Life, told Izvestia on December 9.

"For ambitious people, work often completely consumes life, turning into a continuous marathon without pauses for recovery. This leads to a violation of the boundaries between activity and rest, provoking increased production of the stress hormone cortisol, which leads to pressure spikes, sleep disorders and metabolic disruptions," she said.

According to the expert, the culture of constant success, actively broadcast on social networks, reinforces two interrelated psychological conditions: FOMO syndrome (fear of missing opportunities) and the "achievement" syndrome. A person finds himself trapped in continuous comparison with others, and even significant professional achievements cease to bring joy, being perceived only as an obligatory step towards the next goal.

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From a physiological point of view, this leads to depletion of the dopamine system responsible for feeling satisfied, and chronic stress, when the body is constantly in anxiety mode, and rest begins to seem like a waste of time.

Orlova emphasizes that a successful career is impossible without a healthy body, which must be perceived as a system that works in the long term. Chronic stress leads to vascular spasm, blood clots and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as provokes hormonal disorders.

"To preserve energy and concentration, you need to integrate basic habits into your daily routine: regular sleep for at least eight hours, balanced nutrition, physical activity, and short breaks throughout the day. These measures reduce stress levels and help the brain recover," the specialist said.

In addition, it is useful to arrange for yourself at least one day a week completely without work calls and deadlines, devoting time to simple self—care practices such as walking, breathing exercises or meditation. Health is not a hindrance to ambitions, but a guarantee of their realization, so recovery planning should be as structured as work tasks. Otherwise, the race for success may turn into a struggle not for the result, but for your own well-being.

Anastasia Alekseeva, HR director of the DIDENOK TEAM communications agency, told Izvestia on November 7 that in many teams there is a person who works carelessly - he is irresponsible about fulfilling his tasks, disrupts deadlines, pulls the team down, but is not ready to quit. In this case, the specialist noted, it is worthwhile to define clear boundaries and discuss them with a colleague. This dialogue should be sufficiently specific and respectful, explaining the cause-and-effect relationships. It is important to describe the effect of his work without getting personal or insulting the employee himself.

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