Have you ever seen the movie “I Just Don’t Know How She Does It” with Sarah Jessica Parker based in New York City? Well for those overachievers out there who haven’t, check it out now because this is one of the best movies to illustrate an over achiever. For those of you who don’t know the true definition and think of us overachievers as “stuck-up”, “nerdy”, “doing the most” then be sure to check this definition out. “Overachievers are individuals who "perform better or achieve more success than expected."
This does not mean you can’t succeed unless you are one, but this basically shows how overachievers live off of success and taking on lots of tasks all at once. For me being an overachiever is taking on a lot of tasks at once and not feeling sane and/or relieved until it is all over. I don’t know about all you other over-achievers out there, but for me, I cannot live without my planner and to-do list. The moment I scratch out something, I feel empowered.
So here is a list of Pros and Cons about being an over-achiever…
You are always anxious, but you also are on top of your shit. Aka a planner and coffee being your best friend. There will be days I drink three cups of coffee a day, but now that lent has arrived I gave up my best friend. So if you see me running around like a crazy person, please excuse my mess.
Another con would be that you don’t think you are good enough. People on the outside think you are good and acing everything, but let’s say you had to cheat a way or task in order to do another one, well then you will feel like you’re failing. But the success of another task will then mask it, so therefore a pro would be always having something to do. Yet, I haven’t actually had me time in two weeks, so I guess I’m doing something right.
Pro would be always being busy so, therefore, realizing you’re absent and wanting to spread time amongst your friends or significant other, but a con would be sometimes not being fully there for them or too tired to have a full on conversation.
Another pro would be that you are very career oriented! This means you have your 5-year plan. Heck maybe even your 10-year plan, in some people’s eyes this is intimidating so therefore seen as a con.
Now this can go both ways and that would be being a perfectionist. Usually, when an interviewer asks what my weakness is, I say, “I am a perfectionist.” And the reason I say this is my weakness because at times it means I can be slow at my work, or do things my way instead of my boss’s way.
Another Pro would be the fact that you are a morning bird. Whether you’re a natural morning bird or you have to drink three cups of coffee in the morning just to keep yourself awake at night. This could be a con too since you most likely didn’t sleep at night, so, therefore, feel like hell in the morning and never get to sleep in. Maybe once a week in college, but not at all when you graduate.
