Even though it’s been almost 10 years now, I still remember four exact words in an e-mail sent to me on a Friday evening by a well-meaning senior colleague: “Have a productive weekend.” If I allow myself to dwell on it, I can still taste the unease and guilt I felt at that moment because my plans for that weekend did not look very productive.

The message was clear: You must always be working. That is how you get ahead.