Sarah had always been an ambitious person who loved her career in marketing. She worked at a large advertising agency in the city center. Every morning, she would wake up at six o'clock and check her emails before even getting out of bed. Her commute to work took almost an hour because of the heavy traffic. At the office, she would often skip lunch to finish urgent projects. Her colleagues admired her dedication, but they also worried about her health. Most evenings, Sarah stayed at the office until eight or nine o'clock. When she finally came home, she was too exhausted to do anything except watch television. Her friends had stopped inviting her to social events because she always had to cancel. Sarah's relationship with her partner had also started to suffer. They rarely had dinner together anymore, and their conversations became shorter each day. One morning in December, Sarah woke up feeling extremely tired and dizzy. She tried to get up, but her body refused to cooperate. Her partner called a doctor, who came to examine her at home. 'You are suffering from severe burnout,' the doctor said seriously. 'Your body is telling you that it cannot continue like this anymore.' Sarah felt shocked and scared by the diagnosis. The doctor recommended at least two months of complete rest. Sarah had no choice but to inform her manager about her condition. To her surprise, her manager was very understanding and supportive. 'Take all the time you need to recover,' he said kindly. The first week of rest was extremely difficult for Sarah. She kept reaching for her phone to check work emails out of habit. Her partner gently reminded her that she needed to disconnect completely. Slowly, Sarah started to rediscover activities she had forgotten about. She remembered how much she used to love reading novels. She picked up a book that had been sitting untouched on her shelf for years. For the first time in months, she felt a sense of peace while reading. Sarah also started going for long walks in the park near her apartment. She noticed things she had never paid attention to before, like the changing colors of the leaves. The beauty of nature helped her feel connected to something bigger than her work. After a few weeks, Sarah started seeing a therapist to understand her patterns better. 'Why do you think you felt the need to work so much?' the therapist asked. Sarah thought about this question for a long time before answering. 'I think I believed that my value as a person depended on my professional success,' she admitted. The therapist helped Sarah realize that this belief was not healthy or true. She learned that she could be valuable and loved without sacrificing her health. During her recovery, Sarah spent more quality time with her partner. They cooked meals together and talked about their dreams for the future. Sarah realized how much she had missed these simple moments of connection. She also reconnected with old friends who were happy to have her back in their lives. After two months of recovery, Sarah felt like a different person. She had more energy, slept better, and smiled more often. Before returning to work, Sarah made a list of changes she wanted to make. First, she decided that she would not check emails after seven in the evening. Second, she would take a proper lunch break every day, even if it was just thirty minutes. Third, she would leave the office by six o'clock at least three days a week. Finally, she would protect her weekends and keep them free from work. When Sarah returned to the office, she had a meeting with her manager. She explained her new boundaries clearly and honestly. 'I understand completely,' her manager replied supportively. 'Your health and wellbeing are more important than any project.' The first few weeks back at work were challenging for Sarah. She had to resist the old habits that had led to her burnout. Sometimes she felt guilty when leaving the office on time while colleagues stayed late. But she reminded herself that her health had to come first. Over time, something interesting happened at the office. Other employees noticed Sarah's new approach and started to follow her example. The company even started a wellness program because of her story. A year later, Sarah reflected on everything that had happened. Her burnout had been a painful experience, but it had taught her valuable lessons. She now understood that success meant more than just professional achievements. True success included health, relationships, and personal happiness. Sarah still loved her career, but it was no longer her entire identity. She had finally found the work-life balance that everyone deserves.
English Story (B1)Work-Life Balance
This B1 English story is designed for intermediate learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Sarah, an ambitious marketing professional, experiences severe burnout from overworking. After two months of recovery and therapy, she learns to set boundaries and rediscovers the importance of health, relationships, and personal happiness alongside her career.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What happened to Sarah that made her unable to get out of bed?
2
How long did the doctor recommend Sarah rest?
3
What did Sarah do to help understand her behavior patterns?
4
What was one of the boundaries Sarah set when she returned to work?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
