Unlearning Toxic Hustle Culture: How To Build A Sustainable Business As An Overachiever
This was a tough episode for me because I see myself as an overachiever.
I struggle with keeping myself present because I need to get to the next thing. I need to accomplish what I’m working on now so I can get to the next thing.
I often find myself stretched too thin because in addition to working too hard in general, I become involved in everything. I am volunteering, signing up for races or workout challenges or redecorating my whole house.
I’ve got to be doing ALL the things.
So in this episode, I wanted to add some clarity around what is means to be an overachiever, how to recognize it in yourself or others, and what you can do to still build a sustainable business without burning out.
Who is an overachiever?
Overachievers are people who do great things. The challenge with being an overachiever is that even though they are accomplishing great things, they still need to accomplish more. They attain success but are never satisfied with what they have, they're always striving for more.
These are people who are judging their own worth purely upon their successes.
The problem with overachievement is when it comes at a cost that outweighs the rewards. It’s when people are sacrificing their own health, their own happiness, or the relationships in their lives in order to chase the target that is always moving.
Signs of being an overachiever
Only caring about the outcome when they do reach a goal
Experiencing a feeling of relief that they were able to avoid failing rather than feeling pride or joy that their accomplishment was completed.
Highly self-critical, and they're more likely to suffer from self-doubt and anxiety because they're constantly under stress to achieve almost impossible goals.
Only focused on the future and they struggle to live in the present because they're too busy worrying about things that may or may not happen later on down the road.
Overachievers may engage in risky behavior to reach their goal because their need to achieve is so strong.
Overachievers are stretched too thin because, in addition to working too hard in general, at school, at work, and in their business, they become involved in everything.
Difference between being a high achiever and an overachiever
Overachievers are more focused on reaching the finish line than they are on the actual end product. They need to hit that goal.
High performers or high achievers are focused on reaching the goal, but they care much more about how well they perform. They're willing to take their time in order to do things correctly. They are dedicated to the craft or to the process of learning so that they can reach their goal well, and they care about that process.
How to come out of toxic hustle culture
1. Quiet yourself for a second and think about what is actually most important to you right now.
I was talking to my sister about how I had signed up to run something else while I was struggling with conceiving after a miscarriage. Her question to me was, “where would a baby even fit in your life right now?” And it just stopped me in my tracks because it made me think about what actually is most important to me.
If I consistently added so many things to my plate, how could I show up well for any of them? Is it more important that I have this laundry list of a resume, or is it more important that I'm healthy?
You wouldn't have known my real values by looking at my schedule.
2. Practice self-care
Self-care is this overused word, and it's really diluted it and it looks like a fancy bubble bath, but it's not. Self-care is going for a walk, it's calling a friend. It's skipping out of work at two o'clock instead of six o'clock, so you can go watch your favorite TV show, read your new favorite book, or go grab coffee with a friend.
Sure, bubble baths are great, fancy, you know, face masks, getting your nails done, or spa time. If that's your jam, then go for it. But making sure that you are intentionally putting some of those things into your schedule every day, every week, it's gonna be critical for you to be able to find that balance in your schedule and in your life.
3. Focus on what the important goals are for yourself.
You don't necessarily need to do all of the things all at once. You don't need 15 different offers and a podcast and a YouTube channel and an Instagram account and a Facebook page, and all these different things.
Choose what you love to do.
Choose what makes you happy.
Choose where you can really dedicate the craft of perfection in that success.
Free Resources For You
Grab Chelsey’s free guide on Understanding Procrastination.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation call with Chelsey so that you can create a booked-out business without burnout.
Connect with Chelsey Newmyer
Website: https://chelseynewmyer.com/
Instagram: @chelseyncoaching
