Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541840
18 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2025 In the pursuit of a healthy work-life balance— and a healthy PCB design—one malefactor consis- tently stands in the way: stress. In life, biological stress creeps in through packed calendars, buzzing notifications, and the tug-of- war between personal and professional demands. Everywhere we look, we're offered quick formulas to tame it, but some of these cheeky, Western world life hacks are all contrived to keep our minds and bodies from warping under pressure. For PCB designers, stress isn't just a biological phenomenon. It appears alive and well in our PCB stackups, embedded in the very boards we design and every board that is fabricated and assembled. Mechanical PCB stress is quiet, invisible, and far less forgiving. What Is Imbalance in PCB Design? Much like humans, PCB manufacturing thrives on two things: consistency and symmetry. A healthy TA RG E T C O N D I T I O N Feature C olumn by Kelly Dack , CIT, CID+ From Warped to Wonderful: Balancing Your Life, Career, and Your PCBs