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The Burnout of Caring Too Much at Work
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the hidden burnout driver that rarely gets discussed: over-investment in your job's mission. They anchor the conversation in a 2025 study from Harvard Business School showing that employees who describe their work as a 'calling' are 40% more likely to report emotional exhaustion than those who see it as just a job. Lucas shares the story of a former Teach For America teacher who burned out not from apathy, but from caring too deeply about systemic change. Luna pushes back on the conventional 'find your passion' advice, arguing it can become a pressure trap. They discuss practical strategies like setting 'off-duty hours' for mission-driven work and separating personal identity from job outcomes. The episode closes with a concrete takeaway: how to keep your sense of purpose without letting it consume you.