‘I was a workhorse…’: Priyanka Chopra on how exhaustion at work is glorified and why it’s important to strike a balance

The shift began, she says, when she started a family. It was then that she truly began to seek a more sustainable way to live and work.

However, the stakes extend far beyond personal fulfilment. Chopra is vocal about how the professional world often glorifies exhaustion, leading many to feel that success requires sacrifice at the cost of well-being.

“I think exhaustion is glorified a lot in our professional lives. That whole idea that you have to grind until you’re exhausted, and that’s when you’ll succeed—I disagree. I’ve learned that working hard is important, but so is working smart. And that understanding comes with experience,” Priyanka said.

She suggests being intentional with your time. “Now, I always make sure I switch off when I’m done with my workday. I prioritise my workday—I accelerate it so it’s efficient, and I’m not wasting my time or anyone else’s.”

“You just have to prioritise what’s important to you. Taking time to spend with your family, that’s what makes me better at doing my job.”

Beyond buzzwords: What does a psychologist have to say about burnout?

According to counselling psychologist Srishti Vatsa, Chopra’s reflections echo what many professionals are only starting to acknowledge. Burnout isn’t always dramatic, it often arrives disguised as emptiness or emotional detachment.

“I see people in therapy who are smart, driven, and completely drained. They don’t come in saying ‘I’m burnt out.’ They say things like, ‘I feel blank,’ or ‘I don’t enjoy anything anymore.’ Somewhere along the way, they started believing that if you’re not exhausted, you’re not working hard enough,” she explained.

Vatsa warns that popular mantras like “find balance” can sound deceptively simple. In reality, structural inequality plays a huge role in who even can take breaks.

“Rest is a privilege, and not everyone has it. So if we want to stop burnout, we can’t just put the pressure on individuals. We need to build work cultures that make rest normal and not something you earn after breaking down.”

She’s also quick to point out that not all tiredness is bad. Growth takes energy. Passion projects can wear you out in the best way.

“Sometimes you’re tired because you’re learning something new, or building something that matters to you. It’s not always burnout. The key is knowing the difference and knowing when to stop.”

“The first kind of tiredness needs recovery. The second needs boundaries. And it’s important to know the difference, because not all hard work is toxic. Sometimes growth is uncomfortable. The idea is not to avoid effort, it’s to avoid losing your sense of self in the process.”

From the homepage

Behind claim that Haryana election ‘stolen’, Rahul points to 5 ‘methods’

Elon Musk’s Starlink enters India, signs first deal with Maharashtra to provide connectivity across remote and underserved regions

Rishabh Pant returns, Mohammed Shami ignored as India announce squad for South Africa Test series