How to Stop Being an Overachiever at Work (and Why You Should)

So you think you are the opposite of a quiet quitter (which is a huge misnomer in case you haven’t heard). Instead you are a high flyer– always striving to achieve more and more. As we have already said, the stress that comes from overwork can backfire and affect your ability to do your job properly. Even if you love putting all of your time and effort into your work, it’s important to set boundaries Overachieve your way to major burnout.

For many people, Fear is an important part their overachievement. In addition to your personal well-being, the risk of spreading yourself too thin can even affect your career prospects. Here are some of the downsides of overachieving at work and what you can do to deal with it while still remaining your confident self.

Become a people pleaser

First of all, there is one crucial caveat to note: Many workers know that they must work harder to be treated the same as the bare minimum of other people, based on their race or gender. Still, knowing how to enforce boundaries at work is a necessary skill to avoid burning out in the long run.

If you say “yes” to every little thing at work, you are making yourself too thin. You may take on responsibilities when you really aren’t the best person for the job. In addition, this form of overachievement leads to personal and professional problems Burn out.

Check what your job responsibilities really are. If you’re not sure, schedule a face-to-face meeting with your boss to clarify what’s expected of you and how you can make yourself stand out as an asset (without overstepping your boundaries).

Put perfectionism above productivity

Many high achievers struggle with perfectionism, and perfectionism is the enemy of productivity. It leads to procrastination, as perfectionists tend to put off projects for fear of less-than-perfect results.

If you truly care about your work, you need to learn to curb your perfectionism in favor prioritization. Work smarter, not harder. If you feel like you’re wasting your time and mind on every small task, consider what kind of work you’re dying from. You could give your colleagues the extra time they need to work more strategically while you’re in the dust.

Neglecting a healthy work-life balance

When you constantly raise the bar for what you can and should achieve, you end up in a vicious cycle of “unquenchable striving without purpose.” Harvard Business Review brings it. You could sacrifice your personal life to continue working at work without fully understanding the impact of your decisions.

Set boundaries at work is not only the key to your health, but also the key to doing your job well. We have already covered how to do this setting different types of personal boundaries, which largely boils down to knowing yourself and effectively articulating what you need. For example, Learning to say no (without Yes, really Say no) will help you do the job you were hired to do as effectively as possible.

Fall victim to burnout

“Burnout” is a term that gets thrown around occasionally, but its implications are very real. In addition to mental or physical exhaustion, burnout also leads to feelings of helplessness or incompetence. And especially for high achievers, burnout is difficult to cope with. It can feel like admitting defeat, but ignoring a true burnout won’t make it go away – it will only make the eventual crash worse.

Here’s the thing: If you’re a high achiever, you’re probably not used to cutting yourself down and setting limits. I get it. The secret is to channel your insatiable desire to achieve through healthier outlets. Consider making time outside of work for things that satisfy your need for a sense of accomplishment, like a workout session or a trivia night.

Ultimately, addressing the root of your overachieving tendencies is important to your long-term health. Are you in a toxic work environment? Are you anxious and insecure about your job and unable to accept a job well done? Take some time to reflect and recognize when you’re feeling driven by the expectations of others rather than an inner desire to achieve something, regardless of the cost to you and others.