Daniel had always been a hard worker, but lately everything felt overwhelming. He worked as an accountant at a large corporation in the city center. The company was going through a major restructuring, and everyone was nervous. Every morning, Daniel woke up with a tight feeling in his chest. He dreaded checking his email, knowing there would be new problems. His workload had doubled in the past month. Two colleagues had left the company, and their work was now his responsibility. Daniel worked through lunch every day and often stayed until eight in the evening. He barely had time to see his friends or family anymore. One Thursday afternoon, Daniel's manager called him into her office. 'Daniel, I need the quarterly report by tomorrow morning,' she said. Daniel felt his heart sink. The report usually took three days to complete. 'I will do my best,' Daniel replied, trying to hide his panic. That night, Daniel stayed at the office until midnight. His eyes were red from staring at the computer screen for hours. He drank cup after cup of coffee just to stay awake. The next morning, Daniel delivered the report, but he felt terrible. His hands were shaking and he had a pounding headache. During a meeting, Daniel suddenly felt dizzy and had to sit down. A colleague noticed and asked if he was okay. 'I am fine, just tired,' Daniel lied. That weekend, Daniel could not get out of bed. His body had completely shut down from exhaustion. He slept for almost sixteen hours straight. On Monday, Daniel made a difficult decision. He went to his manager's office and closed the door behind him. 'Sarah, I need to talk to you about my workload,' he said. He explained how stressed he had been feeling. He told her about the physical symptoms he was experiencing. Sarah listened carefully with a concerned expression. 'Daniel, I had no idea things were this bad,' she said. 'Why did you not come to me sooner?' Daniel admitted he had been afraid to appear weak. He thought asking for help would hurt his chances of promotion. 'That is exactly the wrong way to think,' Sarah replied. 'Burning yourself out does not help anyone.' Together, they created a plan to redistribute his workload. Some tasks were given to other team members. Other deadlines were extended to more realistic dates. Sarah also encouraged Daniel to take some time off. 'You have not used any of your vacation days this year,' she pointed out. Daniel took a week off to recover and reset. During that week, he visited his parents in the countryside. He took long walks, read books, and slept without an alarm clock. His mother noticed how tired he looked when he arrived. 'You have been working too hard,' she said, hugging him. By the end of the week, Daniel felt like a different person. His energy had returned and his mind felt clearer. When Daniel returned to work, he made several changes to his routine. He started taking a proper lunch break every day. Instead of eating at his desk, he went outside to get fresh air. He also set a strict rule: no work emails after seven in the evening. At first, it was difficult to disconnect from work. Daniel kept reaching for his phone out of habit. But gradually, he learned to enjoy his evenings again. He started going to the gym twice a week. Exercise helped him release the tension in his body. He also reconnected with old friends he had been neglecting. They met for dinner on Fridays, laughing and talking like old times. Daniel realized that relationships were more important than any report. Six months later, Daniel's work situation had improved dramatically. He was still working hard, but in a more sustainable way. He had learned to say no when his plate was already full. He also learned to recognize the warning signs of stress. When he felt overwhelmed, he took action before things got worse. His manager Sarah later told him she was proud of his progress. 'You have become a much more effective employee,' she said. 'Taking care of yourself makes you better at your job.' Daniel often shared his experience with younger colleagues. He told them not to make the same mistakes he had made. 'Your health is more important than any deadline,' he would say. Looking back, Daniel was grateful for that difficult period. It had taught him an important lesson about balance and self-care. Sometimes, you have to slow down to move forward.
English Story (B1)Dealing with Work Stress
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Daniel, an accountant at a large corporation, struggles with increasing workload after two colleagues leave. He works through lunches, stays late, and experiences physical symptoms of stress including headaches and dizziness. After nearly collapsing during a meeting, he finally speaks to his manager Sarah about his unsustainable situation. Together, they redistribute his workload and Sarah encourages him to take time off. Daniel spends a week with his parents in the countryside, recovering from burnout. Upon returning, he establishes healthy boundaries: taking proper lunch breaks, avoiding evening emails, exercising regularly, and reconnecting with friends. Six months later, he has learned to recognize stress warning signs and becomes an advocate for work-life balance among his colleagues.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What is Daniel's job?
2
Why did Daniel's workload increase so much?
3
What did Daniel do during his week off?
4
What rule did Daniel set for himself after returning to work?
Vocabulary
47 words from this story
