You are allowing yourself to be exploited for no additional benefit to yourself except for words. Your quality of life isn't improving by any measurable means by being appreciated. Think about this. If you were on your death bed right now, what would you reflect on that you did in your life that you remember most as the most important memories and what would you regret? Would you think to yourself, yah that time I spent doing that work was a life well spent? Would you regret not doing more things that were for yourself and you enjoyed? Or spending more time with loved ones? What is the most important to you that you do with this life? Life is honestly short and can be taken away at any given moment. For me the most important is doing things woth people I care about and creating memorable moments. I will not value the time I spent at work when I'm about to die. I work in order to live. Not the other way around.