This Mindset is Killing Your Career — and Your Health

49% of U.S. workers feel stressed every single day, according to Gallup. No surprise: Google searches for “how to stop thinking about work” have jumped 238% in the past month — a clear sign of a growing mental health crisis.

While you're panicking over layoffs and inbox pings, chronic stress is doing long-term damage, linked to heart attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes.

With Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Avery Morgan, Chief Human Resources Officer at EduBirdie, exposes the cost of caring too much — and how to cut the mental cord before it cuts you down.

Is your job quietly killing you? Here’s the fix

"Caring about your job means you’re invested and passionate. But there’s a difference between taking your work seriously and letting every tiny thing wreck your mental state. If you’ve ever hit “Send” and then stared into the existential void wondering if you used too many exclamation marks, had an anxiety attack before presenting results, or cried in the bathroom over one offhand comment — yeah, you care too damn much," Avery says.

Here’s how to stop overthinking your way into burnout and start owning your workday with more peace of mind:

Overthink-proof your brain with a “worst-case file”

"Anxiety thrives on vague fears. To fight it, name what causes it. Write down the absolute worst thing that could happen if something goes wrong. Maybe your project gets delayed. Maybe your manager’s a little annoyed. Now, write the plan: how would you handle it? What would you say? Who could help? You just turned anxiety into a strategy," Avery explains.

"One bonus trick: exaggerate that worst-case scenario until it’s ridiculous. You make a typo, and your team’s laughing, your boss faints, and the planet explodes. Sounds dumb, right? That’s the point. Most fears lose their power once you realize how overblown they really are."

Schedule worry time like it’s a Zoom call

She highlights: "Trying not to worry is like trying not to sneeze — it’s gonna happen anyway, and it’s going to be loud. So give it a space. Literally block 15 minutes on your calendar labeled “Worry dump.” During that time, go wild. Stress, spiral, journal it out. Once that timer’s up, close this mental tab and get back to work. You’re not avoiding worry, you’re managing it."

Build a personal rulebook for chaos moments

"Decision fatigue hits hardest when emotions run high. So, make your rules before the drama actually gets the chance to happen. For example: “If I don’t hear back in 48 hours, I will follow up.” Or “I don’t make major edits after 9 PM.” These micro-boundaries save your brainpower, reduce second-guessing, and build trust in your own process. They also keep you from overworking, even if you strive for perfection," Avery comments.

Get feedback, then let it go (yep, let it go)

"One of the most underrated ways to stop obsessing? Ask real people for actual feedback. Not fishing for compliments, but some real constructive feedback. It takes the pressure off guessing what others think and gives you something concrete to work with. To digest it more easily, ask colleagues for simple, actionable glow & grow points," Avery says.

"Then, the hard part: take the note, make the change (if needed), and move on, no replaying it in your head. The trick is creating a mental divide between your personality and your skills. Yes, you can make mistakes — that doesn’t make you stupid. Yes, you might have little experience in some areas — that doesn’t make you incapable. The moment you stop taking everything personally and start seeing feedback as data to help you grow, you’ll feel way more powerful at work."

Morgan adds: "Caring isn’t the problem; the spiraling is. Preparing for worst-case scenarios, giving worry a time slot, building decision rules, and stopping mind-reading everyone in the office will help you make caring just enough your new superpower."