Do you constantly have a list of things that need to be done and a color-coded planner? Being an overachiever can be something your parents taught you to be or something you are just born with. In my case, I was born with it. I always want to be the best of the best and I do not like to settle for anything less. Many say that there a lot of advantages to this, but there are also several disadvantages.
Advantages:
A lot on your resume
Being an overachiever calls for trying to cram everything you have ever done onto one piece of paper. It is practically impossible. It gets to a point where you almost have to draw things out of a hat to decide what to put on there because all of your achievements are equally important. How do you decide between your multiple certifications and all of the different job titles you have had? After you rattle off that you graduated college in three years and are now going for your masters, you tend to get a lot of "wow that's impressive" responses. That alone is worth it.
Being the person your boss can lean on
Whether they need your help or are looking for opinions, it feels good to have your boss turn to you. They could have picked any other person, but they chose you because they trust you and know that you will get the job done.
Always on the go
You literally have your whole life planned out usually down to the hour, so you do not get a lot of time to hang out. Personally, I need my life planned out or else I will get lost and will not know what to do. I like to think of it as if I am always ready for my next adventure.
Disadvantages:
No sleep
This is the biggest disadvantage there is, was, and ever will be for all the overachievers out there! Your sleeping habits are out of this world. From all nighters to the one day a year you may be able to get 14 hours of sleep, your sleep pattern is never the same. You nap when you can, but some days, a coffee has to take place of a couple of hours of shut eye.
No social life
Disadvantage one is the real reason why you have no social life. You barely get sleep as it is so when you can, which is mainly on the weekends, going out, and partying just does not seem worth it anymore. To think about the laundry list of things you have to do the next day, you literally just want to get to bed so you can start to do those things as early as possible. This is where your friends come in handy and drag you out anyways, even if you are half asleep at the bar!
Always on the go
I put this in the advantages and disadvantages. Being on the go can be constantly draining and will make you burn out very quickly. You never have a second to sit and be by yourself. Meals tend to become your moment to yourself and even during those when you are checking e-mails and social media.
All in all, it is all about balance. As the year is coming to an end, just try and balance out the different aspects of your life. Life has to have some play and not all work. I personally know that this is easier said then done, but new year new me, right?
