I had a conversation with a coworker the other day that went something like this:

Me: "I've really been overwhelmed lately" 
Coworker: "Why?? Nothing we're doing right now is that important, take it easy"

Sure, there are definitely times when the stress, late nights, and early mornings are needed. But my coworker's response was a good reminder that those times should be the exception, not the expectation. When I overwork myself unnecessarily I'm burning energy that I might need later for the truly important stuff.

Maybe next time I'm feeling overwhelmed, I'll take a step back and ask myself: "Is this really as crucial as I'm making it out to be?" If not, perhaps it's time to ease off the gas a little and recharge.