Worker 1 Year Into New Job Seeks Advice on Light Workload After Burnout

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 5

An anonymous employee nearly 1 year into a new job says many days bring too little work, despite telling a supervisor they have bandwidth and still earning a strong first review.
The dilemma stems from a sharp swing from a previous role defined by constant firefighting and burnout, leaving the worker uneasy with a calmer pace even as colleagues appear similarly lightly loaded.
The advice columnist argues the issue is less underuse than a distorted sense of normal workload, saying overwork can make constant stress feel like fulfillment.
Rather than push harder for a busier role, the response urges the worker to accept the lighter load, recharge and use the extra capacity as a healthier long-term balance.