When you try to push through illness like it’s just a mindset issue, you’re not being weak, you’re being misinformed. Many professionals fall into this trap, especially if they’re used to being the dependable one, the high performer, or the person who always gets things done. But when you live with a chronic condition, that same “push through” mindset can quietly erode your health, confidence and career sustainability.

In this post, I’ll break down five common mistakes professionals make when trying to push through illness, explain why they backfire, and share smarter, kinder alternatives that protect your energy and help you keep showing up… In ways that actually work.

Why Trying to Push Through Illness Can Backfire

Let’s be real: you didn’t get where you are by taking the easy road. You’ve worked hard. You’ve shown up. You’ve powered through. But when you’re living with a chronic illness, continuing to push through illness using the same tactics might be working against you, not for you.

It’s not about giving up. It’s about getting smarter with the energy you do have. And these five mistakes might be where your energy is quietly leaking.

1. Mistaking Productivity for Value

The mistake: Believing your value is defined by output.

The impact: You override your body’s cues and miss early signs of burnout.

Try this instead: Focus on high-value tasks aligned with your core values and business goals. Learn to delegate, automate or delay anything that isn’t essential.

📝 Start with my free guide, 5 Powerful Strategies to Reduce Fatigue at Work, to implement small changes that protect your energy from day one.

2. Using Rest as a Last Resort

The mistake: Waiting until a crash to rest.

The impact: Your body becomes stuck in a cycle of overexertion and collapse.

Try this instead: Build rest into your daily structure. Short movement breaks, screen-free lunch, or a walk between meetings. Rest doesn’t mean stopping everything. It means pausing with purpose.

💌 Want weekly reminders to make space for this? Subscribe to The Sunday Power-Up, a dose of encouragement and strategy sent every Sunday.

3. Comparing Yourself to “Healthier” Colleagues

The mistake: Holding yourself to standards that don’t consider your lived experience.

The impact: Constant feelings of failure and invisibility.

Try this instead: Acknowledge your capacity today. Use it wisely. Success isn’t about keeping up, it’s about showing up with what you’ve got and doing so sustainably.

📚 Check out this insightful Psychology Today article on redefining success through purpose rather than productivity.

4. Ignoring Cognitive Symptoms Like Brain Fog

The mistake: Seeing brain fog as laziness or poor focus.

The impact: Mistakes multiply. Frustration grows. Self-trust erodes.

Try this instead: Adapt your systems. Use visual checklists, voice-to-text tools, or batch low-energy tasks. Plan your most demanding tasks during your energy peaks, not when you’re drained.

5. Thinking It’s Either Health or Career, Not Both

The mistake: Believing that adapting means settling.

The impact: You continue to sacrifice your body for goals that now feel harder to reach.

Try this instead: Redefine what ambition looks like with chronic illness. It might not be linear. It might be slower. But it can still be rich, purposeful, and deeply fulfilling.

Ready to Let Go of the “Push Through” Mentality?

Pushing through illness isn’t noble. It’s exhausting. And it’s not your only option. You deserve strategies that work with you, not against you.

With a few key mindset shifts and some small structural changes, your ambition and your health can finally get on the same team.

👉 Grab your free guide: 5 Powerful Strategies to Reduce Fatigue at Work, it’s packed with practical tools you can implement straight away.

👉 Join The Sunday Power-Up newsletter for weekly support, strategy and solidarity in your inbox.

Additional Resources

For UK-based professionals seeking support, the Access to Work scheme offers grants to help pay for practical support if you have a disability or health condition. This can include specialist equipment, support workers, or help with travel costs, enabling you to stay in work while managing your health.

Disclaimer:

The content in this blog is based on my personal experience of living with chronic illness and is shared for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your GP or healthcare professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, work routine, or health management. The tips and strategies shared here can be used alongside medical advice to support your well-being.