Have you ever felt like your identity is more tied to your work than anything else in your life? If so, you’re not alone. In a demanding field like accounting, it’s easy for the lines between who you are and what you do to blur.

For many accountants, work isn’t just a job—it’s a massive part of how we see ourselves. And while dedication to your profession is something to be proud of, there’s a fine line between commitment and something called work martyrdom.

Work martyrdom happens when your dedication crosses over into sacrificing your well-being, relationships, and happiness just to get the job done. It’s when working harder, longer, and with fewer boundaries feels like a badge of honor—a badge that’s tough to take off.

In the accounting world, with its tight deadlines and high stakes, it’s easy to fall into this trap. Work becomes not just what you do, but how you define yourself.

But here’s the truth: while work martyrdom might seem like it’s helping you get ahead, it’s often doing the opposite. The more you tie your identity to staying late, skipping vacations, and taking on more, the more you risk burnout, stress, and even resentment.

And it’s not just your career that suffers—work martyrdom spills over into every area of your life. It can feel like running a marathon without taking care of yourself. You might cross the finish line, but at what cost?

So, now that we’ve laid the groundwork for what work martyrdom is, let’s talk about why it’s such a problem—especially for accountants. What’s really going on when we fall into this trap, and why does it feel so hard to avoid?

Why Work Martyrdom Is a Problem For Accountants

At its core, it’s when working long hours, taking on extra tasks, and pushing yourself to the brink starts to feel like the “right” thing to do—like it’s the only way to be a good accountant.

Maybe you’ve found yourself staying late every night, checking emails during family dinners, or even feeling guilty for taking a vacation. Sound familiar? That’s the slippery slope into work martyrdom.

But here’s the thing—this isn’t just about working hard. It’s a mindset, and it’s one that’s deeply ingrained in our profession. 

In accounting, there’s this unspoken expectation that you should always be available, always be working, and always be pushing yourself to do more. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking, If I work harder, I’ll be more successful.

And honestly? A lot of this isn’t even your fault. Our society loves to glorify people who seem to have an endless capacity for hard work. 

Think about it: how often is the person who stays the latest or skips vacations seen as the most dedicated? It’s almost like overworking becomes a badge of honor.

In many accounting firms and companies, this gets rewarded. People who sacrifice their personal lives to work longer hours often get promotions, praise, or even more responsibility. 

And when you see that happening around you, it’s easy to think that’s what you have to do to succeed. But this is where it starts to go wrong.

Work martyrdom can seem like the answer, but it has some serious consequences—ones that can creep up on you before you even realize it. First and foremost, it takes a massive toll on your health. When you’re constantly pushing yourself without breaks, stress piles up, and so do physical problems. 

Things like insomnia, headaches, or even high blood pressure can become part of your day-to-day life. You might feel exhausted all the time but still keep going because you believe you have to.

And let’s talk about what happens to your relationships. When you’re always working, there’s just no time left for the people who matter most. Little by little, that can lead to feelings of isolation—not just for you but for your loved ones, too. 

They might start to feel like they’re not as important as your job. And honestly, that disconnect can hurt in ways that are hard to fix later.

But here’s what really hits home for me: work martyrdom doesn’t even make you more productive. In fact, it does the opposite. When you’re burnt out, your focus and creativity tank. 

You start making mistakes, missing details, and feeling like you’re running on empty. All those late nights and extra hours? They don’t actually help you move forward. If anything, they hold you back.

What’s worse is that it doesn’t lead to the kind of career growth you’re hoping for. You might still feel stuck, wondering why all this effort isn’t paying off. It’s frustrating, and it’s exhausting. I’ve been there, and I know how easy it is to think, Maybe I just need to try harder. But that’s not the answer.

The truth is, work martyrdom doesn’t lead to the success or fulfillment you want. Instead, it creates a vicious cycle: you work harder, burn out, and end up feeling even more stuck. And it doesn’t just hurt your career—it spills over into every other part of your life.

This is why recognizing it is so important. Once you can see it for what it is, you can start making changes. You can take back control and find a healthier, more balanced way to succeed—both in your career and in your life. You deserve that.

The Brain Science Behind Work Martyrdom

Since this is the podcast that blends brain science with accounting, let’s take a closer look at what’s really going on in your brain when work martyrdom takes over. It’s not just about working hard—it’s about how your brain is wired to make you feel like you have to overwork. And honestly, some of it comes from instincts that have been with us forever.

Your brain’s number one job is to keep you safe and secure, and one of the ways it does this is by equating work with survival. Think about it—back in the day, survival meant working hard to gather food, find shelter, and protect yourself from danger. If you weren’t putting in the effort, you weren’t safe.

Fast forward to today, and while we’re not out hunting for food anymore, that same survival instinct is still there. Your brain sees your job as essential for providing security—for you and your family. 

So when you feel like you’re overworking, it’s not just a habit; it’s your brain quietly telling you, “Work harder—this is how we stay safe.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Your brain also has a built-in reward system that plays a huge role in why you might keep overworking. Every time you check something off your to-do list—whether it’s finishing a project, answering emails, or staying late to meet a deadline—your brain releases dopamine. 

You might know it as the “feel-good” hormone. It gives you that little hit of satisfaction and makes you want more of it.

Here’s how it works: you finish a task, your brain gives you a burst of dopamine, and you think, “That felt good—I should keep going.” The more you work, the more dopamine you get, and before you know it, you’re in a cycle of chasing those little rewards. 

It feels like progress, but it’s actually exhausting you. It’s like running on a hamster wheel—your brain keeps you going because it’s hooked on that next dopamine hit, even though you’re not really getting anywhere.

And then there’s fear and insecurity, which can be a major driver of work martyrdom. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not doing enough,” or “I’m not as good as everyone else,” you know exactly what I’m talking about. Those feelings can trigger your brain’s stress response, putting you into survival mode again.

When you’re in that mode, your brain pushes you to work harder, take on more, and prove yourself. It’s trying to protect you from failure or criticism, but in the process, it’s pushing you toward burnout. 

You might think, “If I just put in a few more hours, or take on that extra project, I’ll feel better about myself.” But here’s the problem: it never feels like enough. Instead, you’re just reinforcing the cycle—more work, more stress, and more exhaustion.

What’s tricky is that your brain doesn’t realize it’s working against you. It’s just doing what it’s wired to do—keep you safe, keep you motivated, and keep you pushing forward. But understanding these patterns is the first step to breaking free from them.

When you recognize that your brain is equating work with survival, chasing dopamine, and reacting to fear, you can start to interrupt those patterns. It’s not about blaming yourself or your brain—it’s about seeing what’s happening and choosing a different way forward.

The next step? Start paying attention to the signs of work martyrdom in your life. Once you can spot those patterns, you’ll be able to take back control before it spirals out of hand.

Signs of Work Martyrdom You Need to Pay Attention To

So how do you know if you’re slipping into work martyrdom? Sometimes it’s subtle—so subtle that it feels normal at first. But once you start noticing the patterns, it’s easier to recognize when work is taking over more than it should.

Let’s talk about a few common signs that might mean you’re on the path to becoming a work martyr.

One of the first red flags is feeling like you have to respond to emails immediately—no matter what time it is or what you’re doing. Maybe it’s late at night, you’re in the middle of a family dinner, or even on vacation, and you feel that itch to check your inbox and fire off a reply. 

Sound familiar? It’s as if not responding right away might cause the sky to fall or make people think you’re slacking.

I see this all the time with my coaching clients, and let me tell you—it’s exhausting. This habit might seem harmless, but it’s a clear sign that work is starting to run the show. You’re prioritizing your inbox over everything else, and that’s a key indicator of work martyrdom sneaking in.

Then there’s the fear of taking time off. Vacation days are there for a reason—they’re meant to help you recharge and maintain some balance. But if you find yourself hesitating to use them, or worse, letting them expire unused, that’s a problem.

Maybe you’re worried that taking time off will make you look less dedicated, or that everything at work will fall apart while you’re gone. This mindset is classic work martyr behavior. It’s like telling yourself that the office can’t survive without you, which only adds to your stress and makes stepping away feel impossible.

Another big sign? Struggling to delegate. If you’re constantly saying, “No one else can do it as well as I can,” you’re piling unnecessary stress onto your plate. 

Delegation isn’t just about lightening your load—it’s also about giving others the chance to grow. When you refuse to let go of tasks, you’re not protecting the quality of the work; you’re just making everything harder for yourself. And let’s be real—that’s not sustainable.

Now, let’s talk about something I know a lot of us do: constantly talking about how busy and stressed we are. If you find yourself saying, “I have so much on my plate,” or “I’m so overwhelmed,” more often than not, it might be your way of justifying those long hours and sacrifices. 

It’s like you’re trying to prove to yourself—and maybe others—that all this work is necessary. But this stress-talk isn’t helping. It’s actually a clear sign that work martyrdom is taking a toll on you.

I’ll share a quick story that I shared in my book “The Smarter Accountant”. One day, I was walking behind two accountants in my building. One said to the other, “Did you notice Joe’s car wasn’t in the parking lot last night?” The other replied, “Well, he must not be very good at what he does.”

That comment stopped me in my tracks. These two genuinely believed that being the last one in the office was a sign of being a good accountant. It’s the kind of mindset that feeds work martyrdom, and it’s so easy to fall into if you’re not careful.

Oh, and here’s one more sign to watch out for: resentment and isolation. When work martyrdom takes over, it’s common to start feeling frustrated with people who set boundaries. You might catch yourself judging others for leaving work on time, taking lunch breaks, or prioritizing their personal lives.

It can feel like you’re the only one truly committed, which creates a sense of isolation. Over time, this resentment builds up, leaving you disconnected from colleagues and more entrenched in the work martyr mindset.

Recognizing these signs is the first step to making a change. Once you can spot these patterns in yourself, you can start reclaiming your time and energy.

Now that we’ve uncovered what work martyrdom looks like, let’s talk about what you can do to stop it and create a more balanced, fulfilling life—both professionally and personally.

How to Stop Work Martyrdom

So, you’ve recognized some of the signs of work martyrdom in your life. Now what? The good news is that you don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle forever. 

You can break free and create a healthier, more balanced way of working. It just takes a little self-awareness and a willingness to make some changes.

The first step is to really take a good, honest look at your work habits. Ask yourself, Why am I working the way I am? 

Are you staying late at the office because the work truly requires it, or is it because you feel like you should? Are you checking emails late at night because it’s urgent, or because you’re worried about how it might look if you don’t respond right away?

Being honest about what’s driving your behavior is huge. Maybe it’s fear—fear of not being good enough, fear of falling behind, or fear of being judged. If you can identify those feelings, you can start to understand them instead of letting them control you.

One of the most important things you can do is allow yourself to feel negative emotions without using overwork as a way to escape them. I know that sounds uncomfortable—no one wants to sit with feelings like anxiety, self-doubt, or insecurity. 

But here’s the thing: those feelings are temporary. They don’t define you, and they definitely don’t need to dictate your actions.

When you let yourself feel those emotions instead of avoiding them by diving into more work, you start to take their power away. Over time, this makes it much easier to step back and say, I don’t have to do more just to feel better.

Next up is setting boundaries. And yes, I know this can feel awkward at first, especially if you’re used to being “always on.” But boundaries are essential for your well-being. 

Start by deciding on clear work hours and sticking to them. Maybe you say, “After 6 p.m., I’m done for the day—no more emails, no more projects.”

You can also set boundaries for how you handle work on weekends or during vacations. Remember, time off isn’t just a nice idea; it’s necessary. Taking breaks recharges you, and that makes you more effective when you’re back at work.

Another big piece of this puzzle is managing your mind. A lot of work martyrdom is driven by thoughts that aren’t really serving you, like “I need to work harder to prove my value,” or “If I don’t do it all, no one else will.” These beliefs feel so real, but they’re often just stories we’ve told ourselves.

What if you challenged those thoughts? How?  By looking for evidence that success doesn’t have to mean sacrificing everything. 

Think about people you know—or maybe even your own experiences—where balance and boundaries didn’t get in the way of success. Shifting your mindset can be powerful, and it helps you make choices that actually support a more fulfilling life.

And here’s something important to keep in mind: this is a process. You’re not going to flip a switch and suddenly have it all figured out. And that’s okay. The key is to keep moving forward, even if it’s just one small step at a time. Every little change you make adds up.

The more you practice self-awareness, allow yourself to feel your emotions, set boundaries, and challenge unhelpful beliefs, the closer you’ll get to a life that feels balanced and fulfilling—not just professionally, but personally, too.

The bottom line is that you don’t have to be a work martyr to be successful. In fact, letting go of that mindset will likely make you more successful. You’ll feel healthier, happier, and more productive, and your relationships will improve as well.

So, start today. Take that first step by reflecting on your work habits and asking yourself, What can I change to create a better balance in my life? Then commit to making those changes. You deserve a life that works for you, not one where work is all you have.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Letting Go Of Work Martyrdom

Before I share a coaching client’s story, let me just say that work martyrdom is one of the most common and sneakiest issues I help my clients with.  Like carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s undetectable and deadly unless you have a carbon monoxide detector.

That’s kind of what I consider myself – a detector of work martyrdom before it’s too late.

For example, I worked with a client who was a dedicated accountant, always working long hours and believing that staying late was the key to success. He was constantly at the office, often the first one in and the last one out. 

But despite all his hard work, he started feeling completely drained. His relationships were suffering, and he wasn’t as happy with his job as he thought he’d be.

When we first started working together, he told me he felt trapped. He couldn’t remember the last time he had dinner with his family without checking his phone, and he felt like he was failing—not just at work, but as a husband and father. 

The more he pushed himself at work, the further away he felt from the things and people that mattered most. He was exhausted, frustrated, and honestly, scared. He worried he might burn out completely but didn’t know how to stop.

When he finally set boundaries—like committing to family dinner without interruptions—it wasn’t just his work that improved. He said something I’ll never forget: ‘I didn’t realize how much life I was missing until I got some of it back.’ Seeing him rediscover joy in both his work and his personal life was a powerful reminder that success doesn’t mean sacrificing everything else.

The bottom line is that there’s no shame in admitting that you’re a work martyr, but there’s no reason to continue being one.  You deserve to take off the thorny martyr crown and have a balanced, happy life.

Let’s wrap up with a key takeaway and a simple question to help you apply what you’ve learned.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway is that work martyrdom might feel like the path to success, but in reality, it leads to burnout, strained relationships, and decreased productivity. It’s a cycle that can quietly take over your life, leaving you exhausted and feeling like no matter how much you do, it’s never enough. The good news is that you don’t have to stay stuck here.

Recognizing the signs and making small, intentional changes, like setting boundaries and managing your emotions, can help you break free. Remember, it’s not about overhauling your life overnight—it’s about taking small, meaningful steps that add up over time. 

Whether it’s deciding to log off at a certain time each day or learning to sit with uncomfortable emotions instead of diving into more work, these changes will create space for a healthier, more balanced life.

This week, take a moment to reflect and ask yourself, “Am I sacrificing my well-being and happiness for work? And if I am, what’s one small step I can take today to start reclaiming balance in my life?” 

Maybe it’s as simple as stepping away from your email during dinner or finally using a vacation day you’ve been putting off. The important thing is to start—because you deserve a life where success doesn’t come at the expense of your health and happiness.

Well, that’s what I have for you.  Thank you for joining me as I discussed the issue with work martyrdom in the accounting profession.  I hope you’ve learned something that you can begin to apply in your career or in your personal life.

As I share all the time, you worked hard to become an accountant; it’s time to make it easier to be one.

So if you are struggling with any aspect of being an accountant, you can simply go to www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar and book a free session with me.

And make sure you check back each week as I help you go from being a stressed accountant to a Smarter Accountant.

Make sure you go to www.thesmarteraccountant.com and take The Smarter Accountant Quiz. You’re going to want to know if you’ve been underutilizing your accountant brain so that you have a starting point for becoming a Smarter Accountant.

Also, I would appreciate it if you could get the word out to other accountants about this podcast.  The more accountants find out about it, the more we can begin to change the narrative in the accounting profession.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.