The largest career decision I’ve made to date was resigning from my last position six months ago. It was a big decision because it was a solid job with the potential for near future advancement, but it didn't align with what I truly want. It was the realization that the job is a means to the "dream," but not always the dream itself.

My early experiences in the workplace serve as the foundation for my understanding of my developing identity and how I react to emotional stress. We’re all students of our own psyche, learning how we react in new situations—especially our new COVID-19 reality. Work life has never been seen through a more collective lens.

Our literal work-life balance is the time we put in, the hours spent at our desks or online—answering emails, Slacks, texts, or calls. Our mental work-life balance tends to be correlated.