Overachieving isn’t all about getting high grades and earning several medals or accomplishments; it has uglier heads to rear, especially within the academic field.
The dictionary defines overachieving as doing "better than expected; achieving more than is standard or usual." Nowadays, society views overachieving as reaching incredible feats that are harder than usual. This narrative promotes the idea that the more effort you put into achieving, the more worthy you are of praise. It is essential, however, to recognize when it becomes counterproductive.
Overachieving can become damaging when it harms a person’s mental state. Andrew Elliot, a psychologist from the University of Rochester, says, “Overachievers have an underlying fear of failure or self-worth contingent upon competence.” He adds, “Rather than setting and striving for goals, their motivation impels them into the world to avoid failure.” It’s impossible to reach perfection. Pressuring yourself always to be the best will only add unneeded stress.
Unhealthy overachieving can lead to self-sabotage—something you do against yourself that hinders you from reaching success. Overachievers tend to compare themselves to others, which can be destructive, as it consumes their minds with self-doubt. When this continues, it could drive a person to give up on particular goals because of inadequacy.
Thus, maintaining a balance of rest, work, and reflecting on motivations is important. We need to be clear on why exactly we strive to do certain things. When reflecting, ask yourself whether it is worth it. Naturally, it’s not entirely wrong to push yourself. Encourage yourself to aim high and take the initiative. However, do consider your limits. Don’t force yourself beyond your capabilities and stress yourself to the point of breaking. Knowing when to rest is vital to not tire yourself. “To reduce your risk of burnout, take a few minutes daily to have quiet. Even three minutes a day will make a difference,” quoted Dr. Mary Donohue.
With that, “Quiet Quitting Culture” is often used to cope with burnout. As Zaid Khan said, “You're still performing your duties, but you're no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentality that work has to be your life. The reality is it's not—and your labor does not define your worth as a person.” For instance, students may subconsciously overwork themselves and justify being unproductive the next few days because of fatigue. The common phrase “grades don’t define you” can be used as an excuse not to work hard. However, this mindset only demotivates us from doing our best. Striving to do your best does not mean overworking yourself to breaking. It means knowing what you are capable of, further developing that skill, and understanding what you are incapable of. It means setting doable goals in your mind to prevent overloading yourself with unrealistic tasks.
While it may feel nice to have many achievements to some extent, but what’s the cost? You get tiring and stressful days, only to get that few seconds of acknowledgment for exceeding expectations. However, don’t let this hinder you from doing your best. You can still get all these achievements without burning yourself out—by finding balance. While overachieving can give you that sense of satisfaction, it’s still important to prioritize your needs above all else, at the same time, reflect on what exactly these needs are and if they are worth it.