Welcome to Spark Insights! If you're new here, in this newsletter I share tips, tools and resources help you live a more intentional life each day.

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Giveaway runs: Monday, March 31 and finish at 11:59pm PT on Monday, April 14.

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The Connection Between
Burnout and Overachievement

Overachievers don’t burn out because they’re weak.

They burn out because they never learned to stop.

The connection between burnout and overachievement is backed by science.

And it’s not what most people think.

Research from the World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome from chronic workplace stress not successfully managed. But here's what happens with overachievers:

We don't just experience stress.

We normalize it.

We chase it.

We reward ourselves for surviving it.

According to Christina Maslach, one of the leading researchers on burnout, the biggest predictors are:

→ Excessive workload

→ Lack of control

→ Unfair treatment

→ Breakdown in community

→ Misaligned values

Sound familiar?

Overachievers often:

✅ Take on more than their fair share

✅ Set sky-high standards—and raise them again

✅ Tie self-worth to achievement

✅ Avoid rest because rest feels “unproductive”

But the real kicker?

We’re praised for these behaviors.

Promoted for them.

Until one day, we hit a wall.

And that wall looks like:

→ Anxiety that won’t shut off

→ Exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix

→ Apathy about work you used to love

→ Wondering if this is what success is supposed to feel like

Let me be clear: Ambition isn’t the problem. Unquestioned ambition is.

So here’s the shift:

You don’t have to stop being driven.

But you do need to be intentional.

Ask yourself:

→ Does this goal align with my actual values—or just expectations?

→ Am I running toward something—or away from something?

→ What would success look like if it didn’t cost me my health or relationships?

Because burnout doesn’t always look like collapse.

Sometimes it looks like high performance on the outside… and quiet misery on the inside.

You deserve better than that.

Let your drive serve you—not consume you.

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Here’s a checklist on burnout symptoms …

How did you do?

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Quote

Question

Are you pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion in pursuit of success? How can you create balance?

Action Step

Identify one area where you tend to overextend yourself. Set a boundary this week to protect your energy.

Statistic

According to a Harvard Business Review study, 96% of senior leaders report feeling burned out, with overachievement being a key contributor.

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Resources to Check Out

🎧 Podcasts

• The Happiness Lab: When Overachievement Leads to Burnout

• Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead: Rest as a Leadership Skill

📚 Books

• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski

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Two Ways I Help

1. Join Cove & Compass - the Group Program

   Cove & Compass has officially opening our doors! Spots are still open.
   
   ✨ What’s inside?
   ✔ Instant access to top courses on burnout, job searching, and career planning.
   ✔ A community of professionals who understand your journey.
   ✔ Tools & resources to help you take the next step.
   ✔ Live events & discussions with career experts.
   

   Start your 14 day trial today. ​We’re closing Wave 1 in mid-April. Get your seat.

2. Career Break Compass is available everywhere books are sold!​ 
   Get 20% when you order from my publisher. Use CAREERBREAK20.

Once you order, let me know so that I can give you access to all the online resources! Reply to this email with your receipt, or submit on my website.

Until next week.

Thanks
Laura

Certified Executive Coach | Advisor | Author
Visit lauranguyen.co