High Achievers, How Are We Doing?
Quick reminder as Fall approaches
Hey there, High Achievers!
How are we hanging in there as Fall approaches?
Does it feel like your summer was wasted? Like you set out to accomplish so much and barely made a dent in your to-do list?
That seems to be the case for every high-achieving mind I have met recently. Even if the to-do list had 100 items and 95 of them were completed, there seems to be an internalized belief that if it isn’t all done, as expected, on or before the original deadline, then failure is imminent.
But here’s the thing: You are not failing.
Your goals are too big to be accomplished in one summer. Each task on that list is probably big enough to be broken down into even more small steps. Steps so small that it feels almost too easy. And too easy just isn’t your cup of tea.
If it was easy, do we even give ourselves credit for completing it? Or was that just expected?
Yeah, yeah. I have heard the internal monologue of too many high-achieving mindsets. And yes, I suffer from my own sometimes.
There is nothing wrong with being a high achiever. There is nothing wrong with high expectations and challenging yourself. The trouble comes in when we forget to humanize our own experiences and recognize the progress we have actually made.
The Reality
You will never be superhuman. Unless there are some experiments I am unaware of going on that have us on track to become the new Marvel universe. You will always be a human being who needs to eat, rest, sleep, and spend time on things other than work and projects.
Being human doesn’t make you inferior. It makes you normal. And I know “normal” is a scary word for some high achieving people but in this moment, I hope you can sit with it as a reality. Accept your humanity. Recognize the actions you have taken throughout your life to get to the place you are now, knowing there is so much further to go.
You are incredible.
You are freaking MAGIC!
You are also allowed to rest. To pause. To step back.
Here comes the Fall
Summer is almost over and Fall is coming fast. But it is OK if that to-do list still has a couple of lingering items. Take some time to reassess your priorities, and make sure you are including time for leisure, family, and relaxation. Your self-care is an important part of maintaining that whole bad-ass thing you have going on. So, don’t let that slip!
Life is built one action step at a time. And to take action, we must have the energy to do it. Just because you aren’t getting there as quickly as you would like doesn’t mean you have done anything wrong. It doesn’t mean you are failing. Progress that happens slower than we would like is still progress.
You are on your way to change.
So promise yourself one thing today… that you will make time to rest and recharge before running headfirst into the next item on that list.
How are you caring for yourself today to ensure that you have enough energy to keep progressing towards your goals?
About The Author
Amanda Marshall, Ph.D., NCSP
Dr. Marshall is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist, and the founder of Inspire Psychology, a private psychology practice serving adolescents, adults, and families across New Jersey, New York, and PSYPACT participating jurisdictions. She specializes in neurodivergent experiences, executive functioning, learning differences, anxiety, depression, OCD, and life transitions. Her approach is grounded in acceptance — helping people understand their own minds with curiosity rather than judgment. If something here resonated, you can learn more or schedule a free 15-minute consultation at inspirepsycnj.com
