An Indian man working in Singapore has sparked a discussion on corporate burnout after sharing a candid video about sleep deprivation, financial pressure and the unhealthy glorification of workplace suffering.
(Also read: Indian techie on how Singapore changed him as a person: ‘You feel guilty if…’)
Taking to Instagram, the man identified as Aman, a machine learning engineer, reflected on how employees often mistake constant exhaustion for success. In the video, he said, “Hi, I’m a Machine Learning Engineer. I sleep four hours, I have EMIs, I haven’t eaten a proper meal since Thursday. I am on my fourth coffee and it is 11:00 AM. And until very recently I thought this was winning.”
He added, “Humne suffering ko kitna aesthetic bana diya hai (We have made suffering so aesthetic). Bad sleep schedule, ‘Oh, I’m just built different.’ Three EMIs on things you couldn’t afford, ‘Bhai, that’s just adulting.’ Skipping lunch because the deployment is breaking production. The grind never stops because you never let it stop.”
‘That’s not discipline, that’s just damage’
Aman said that many professionals dress up unhealthy routines as dedication, even when their bodies are paying the price. “That’s not discipline, that’s just damage with a good designation on LinkedIn,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Aman said that many professionals dress up unhealthy routines as dedication, even when their bodies are paying the price. “That’s not discipline, that’s just damage with a good designation on LinkedIn,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Sharing his own experience, he added, “I was debugging a production issue at 2:00 AM, running on coffee and ego, genuinely feeling like a hero. Nobody was giving me a medal; my body was just quietly keeping score.”
He also criticised corporate culture for selling a false idea of ambition. “Corporate culture ne ek bahut bada jhooth becha hai (Corporate culture has sold a very big lie). That exhaustion is a proof of ambition, it’s not. It’s just exhaustion with a salary slip,” he said.
Aman concluded with a reminder for professionals to prioritise themselves. “Apna khayal rakho (Take care of yourself). Deadlines come back every sprint. You don’t.”
Watch the clip here:
Internet reacts to video
The clip garnered several reactions, with many users saying that his words reflected their own experience. One user wrote, “This hit harder than any motivational video.”
(Also read: Indian man in Singapore contrasts work culture, says in India you beg for leave but abroad you only inform)
Another said, “Corporate burnout is real and people need to talk about it more.” One more said, “LinkedIn makes burnout look glamorous, but it is not.” A user also commented, “Take care of your health before your body forces you to stop.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)