" Are You a Chronic Overachiever? "

 

Tue 14 Dec 2021

" Are You a Chronic Overachiever? " 

It’s good to be ambitious in your career. But a relentless drive to achieve can lead to burnout, hurt your relationships, and create an unhealthy work-life imbalance. How can you dial back your overachieving instincts? Start with these steps:

(1) Do some self-reflection. 

When did your pattern of overachievement begin? Was it through high performance in school or sports? Be honest with yourself about how your identity and self-worth got hooked on achieving. Those insights will help you begin the process of undoing what is likely decades of programming.

(2) Challenge your assumptions.

 Ask yourself: What might happen if I were to take my foot off the gas? Am I afraid of failing? Looking incompetent? Letting people down? Our fears are typically based on faulty assumptions and, left unexamined, these assumptions keep us stuck in old patterns.

(3) Redefine success. 

Take a holistic view. Life isn’t just about professional accomplishments. What else do you want in terms of your health and wellbeing, family, social life, and community? Then choose one small and simple action that will move you toward this broader definition of success.

This tip is adapted from “How to Dial It Back When You’re a Chronic Overachiever,” by Dina Smith