DEISY ARROYO, Analyst III Business Process Transactions at DXC Technology, has shared a remarkable personal journey that challenges conventional ideas about success and productivity. Her recent post on LinkedIn speaks volumes about the pressures faced in today’s fast-paced, achievement-driven society. Yet, her journey from burnout to breakthrough offers an inspiring reflection on the importance of embracing stillness and redefining success on one’s own terms.
DEISY ARROYO’s story begins with the heavy expectations that often accompany growing up in a Hispanic community. For many, the weight of these expectations can feel like an unrelenting force, propelling one forward in a constant quest for achievement. However, DEISY ARROYO realized that this relentless pursuit had its costs—especially when success became more of a treadmill than a goal. Each new achievement was simply a stepping stone to the next, and there was no room for pause or rest. To stand still was to fall behind, and this unyielding mindset ultimately led to what she describes as a burnout of the most profound kind.
In her LinkedIn post, DEISY ARROYO outlines three key signs that indicate one might be trapped in the cycle of toxic productivity. The first sign was a calendar packed to the brim, looking more like a game of Tetris than a tool for organization. The absence of free time, or even a single gap between tasks, made it impossible to catch a breath, let alone recharge. The second sign was the overwhelming guilt triggered by rest. In DEISY ARROYO’s case, this guilt was even more intense than the familiar phrase from her mother, “I’m not mad, just disappointed.” It signaled a deeper issue: that rest was seen as an indulgence rather than a necessity. The third and final sign was the treadmill-like feeling of success—always striving, always running, but never truly arriving. It was as though success itself was an elusive destination, constantly just out of reach.
It was in the midst of this chaos and constant striving that DEISY ARROYO experienced her wake-up call—burnout. The kind of burnout where even the energizing promise of coffee couldn’t revive her spirit. At that moment, DEISY ARROYO realized that the pursuit of success, when untethered from true purpose and balance, could be a deeply draining experience. It wasn’t the relentless chasing of more that would bring her fulfillment, but the wisdom of pausing, reflecting, and rediscovering her sense of purpose.
DEISY ARROYO’s forced pause brought with it profound revelations that would reshape the way she approached both her work and her life. The first revelation was a powerful realization: Innovation thrives in empty spaces, not packed calendars. Creativity and fresh ideas, she discovered, are more likely to emerge when there is room for reflection and introspection, not just constant motion. The second revelation was that the cultural pressure to achieve had become her inner voice. For years, DEISY ARROYO had internalized the notion that success was only valuable if it was constant and visible. The third revelation was even more liberating: her best ideas had emerged not from a frantic search for them, but when she stopped trying so hard to find them. Finally, DEISY ARROYO learned that rest was not laziness. In fact, rest is essential for strategic regrouping, recharging, and allowing oneself to return to work with renewed clarity and energy.
These revelations were pivotal in DEISY ARROYO’s journey toward redefining success. No longer would she measure her worth by how full her calendar was or how many tasks she could check off each day. Instead, she chose to embrace a more thoughtful and intentional approach to success. In her LinkedIn post, DEISY ARROYO shares five ways she is redefining success for 2025. The first shift is from “hustle harder” to “think deeper.” Rather than focusing on doing more, DEISY ARROYO has learned the importance of quality thinking, which leads to better decisions and more meaningful outcomes. The second shift is from “what’s next” to “what matters.” This change in perspective encourages a focus on the priorities that truly align with one’s values and goals. Instead of chasing after every opportunity, DEISY ARROYO now seeks to invest her time and energy where it matters most.
The third shift involves choosing quality connections over quantity metrics. In a world dominated by social media and superficial networking, DEISY ARROYO now values authentic relationships over numbers. Fourth, she has made peace with empty calendar blocks. Where once these gaps would have triggered feelings of guilt, she now recognizes them as opportunities for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation. Finally, DEISY ARROYO embraces the importance of celebrating progress, not perfection. Success, she acknowledges, is not about achieving flawlessness but about recognizing the small wins and the steps taken toward growth.
Through these reflections and shifts, DEISY ARROYO has learned the most important lesson of all: her biggest breakthroughs came when she stopped treating stillness as her enemy. In a world that constantly tells us to hustle, grind, and achieve more, DEISY ARROYO’s message is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the greatest successes come from slowing down and allowing space for rest and introspection.
As we head into 2025, DEISY ARROYO’s journey is one that challenges us all to reconsider our relationship with success and productivity. Her story encourages us to redefine what success truly means and to honor the spaces of stillness and rest that allow us to grow. DEISY ARROYO’s reflection on cultural beliefs surrounding work, rest, and achievement invites us all to pause, reflect, and, ultimately, rewrite the rules that govern our own lives. What beliefs shaped your relationship with success and rest? Perhaps, like DEISY ARROYO, it’s time to rewrite them for a healthier, more meaningful future.
