How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life

Work doesn't end when the workday does. Even after we close our laptops, our minds keep replaying awkward meetings, looming deadlines, and unfinished to-do lists. Over time, that "always on" mentality can quietly hijack our relationships, our health, and our happiness. Dr. Laurie sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch ( Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life ) to explore the science of work stress — and why so many of us get stuck in fight-or-flight mode long after we've left the office. Plus, Ben Walter, host of " The Unshakeables " and CEO of Chase for Business, shares what he's learned from working with small business owners who don't have the option to simply "clock out." If you've ever felt like work is bleeding into everything, this episode offers science-based tools to help you take your life back. Resources mentioned in this episode: Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life " Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement " " The Relationship Between Workplace Stressors and Mortality and Health Costs in the United States " " How Small Businesses Drive the American Economy " " Small Business Facts " " The Unshakeables " " Yerkes-Dodson Law Of Arousal And Performance " " The Use of Imagery to Manipulate Challenge and Threat Appraisal States in Athletes " " Rebuilding After a Blaze: Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea "

You can listen to How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life is an episode from The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries.

This episode is 43:18 long.

This episode was published on Mar 16, 2026.

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