After surviving a heart attack one Sunday afternoon, an overworked IT delivery lead decided this was the moment to reevaluate his priorities. He has penned a social media post, sharing the insights of his near-death experience with the world.
Frostick works in IT for the U.K.-based financial services franchise, HSBC. The father of three from London had grown used to working 12-hour days during the pandemic; having lost sight of a healthy work-life balance. He thus found that it was his job that occupied his thoughts when disaster struck.
One Sunday in April, Frostick spent his day with a morning cup of coffee, a trip to the park, shopping, and a late lunch, which was “pretty standard” up until 4 p.m., he said.
Sitting down to prep for work for the upcoming week, he found he couldn’t breathe, felt his chest tighten, and felt “surges” in his left arm and neck as his ears popped.
He was having a heart attack. Yet, instead of the proverbial life montage flashing before his eyes, Frostick panicked about his work.
“I needed to meet with my manager tomorrow, this isn’t convenient,” and, “How do I secure the funding for X,” he thought. Next, he panicked about lapsed updates to his will before hoping his wife didn’t find him dead.
Making it into the bedroom to lie down, Frostick caught his wife’s attention and she called for an ambulance.
Later, recovering in a hospital bed, Frostick penned a list. Among his revised ambitions for his life were spending less time on Zoom, losing 15 kilograms (33 pounds), and spending quality time with his family.
“I want every day to count for something at work, else I’m changing my role,” he added. “And that, so far, is what near death has taught me.”
Frostick’s LinkedIn post drew tens of thousands of comments, with many sharing their own experiences and many praising his revised priorities.
Frostick, who is responsible for over 20 employees, claimed it was he who blurred the work-life boundaries and chose to work at weekends.
“Whereas before I would finish sensibly anywhere between five and half six, I’d be finding myself there on a Friday at 8 o’clock at night exhausted, thinking I need to prep up something for Monday and I haven’t got time, and I started then to actually work weekends,” Frostick said.
Four weeks after his ordeal, he is now up, walking, and stronger by the day. Frostick is married to the conviction that change paves the way forward. He is also pleased that sharing his ordeal is helping others.
