Achievement Addict: Level 100

As a self-proclaimed achievement addict, I thrive on productivity.

Have you ever felt like you and your partner just weren't synced up, especially when it came to down time? Despite feeling like you were excelling both at work and at home, there's this underlying sense of disconnect? 

The more tasks I can check off my list, the better.  I’m addicted to achievement.

I measure my success by how much I can get done in a day.  

The more, the better.  

I’m very task oriented, so if I can check it off a list or cross it off my mental to-do, I feel like I’m rocking it out.  

However, this mindset often leaves me struggling to be present with my family, particularly with my husband, who has a completely different approach to life. While I wake up energized and ready to conquer the day, he simply wants to relax. It's a constant balancing act, but understanding our family goals keeps me grounded.

One of my clients mirrors my own struggles. She's highly accomplished and praised for her productivity, yet she feels like a failure for prioritizing family time or self-care. She's caught in a cycle of achievement addiction, where success at work overshadows her personal life, leading to guilt and neglect of her own needs.

Research shows that overworking can lead to exhaustion and strain on relationships, affecting mental health. According to a recent study by WebMD (Feb 2024), being out of balance can result in a shorter temper, fatigue, poor health, increased stress levels, less time with loved ones, and disrupted sleep.

To address this challenge, we worked together to establish common family goals with her, her partner, and her kids. 

By aligning our goals with our family, we shift our perspective and make personal goals just as important as professional achievements. Not by words, but through actions.  We lead by example to our kids, showing both work ethic and personal lives have a valuable place in our lives.  

Knowing these shared objectives provides clarity and helps us maintain balance in all areas of life.

It's not about sacrificing success for happiness or vice versa but rather integrating all aspects to lead a fulfilling life.