A new study has linked perfectionism to burnout in three dimensions of life, namely work, school, and in sports. Though perfectionism can increase motivation and drive, it can also cause concern by creating potential health problems due to stress.
Perfectionism and Burnout: How to ruin your success at work, school, and on the field
Researchers at York St. John University in England have published an online study in the Personality and Social Psychology Review that used meta-analysis to compare and contrast statistical data on perfectionism and burnout.
The study, which is the first of its kind, examined stress and potential health problems related to perfectionist personality styles from a wide variety of 43 previously published studies. The findings from the meta-analysis that captured results from studies spanning 20 years were mixed.
Lead researcher Andrew Hill said there are two aspects to perfectionism, which affect the way perfectionism plays into motivation and burnout: perfectionist strivings (the positive) and perfectionist concerns (the negative).
Perfectionist strivings versus Perfectionist concerns: Why Burnout Is Common in Perfectionism
Perfectionist strivings, or the positive aspect of perfectionism, shows when the person sets high personal standards and is proactive in accomplishing goals. With the sense of direction and self-motivation, the perfectionist achieves a sense of worth through accomplishment, which may delay any effect of burnout.
However, with all good things come bad things. The debilitating effects of perfectionism comes in the form of perfectionist concerns, which cause people high levels of stress. Perfectionists can experience the negative side of perfectionism through constant worry, whether it is concerns that they will let other people down or that they cannot meet the high standard they have set for themselves.
Perfectionist concerns and the stress that accompanies them can cause health problems ranging from simple anxiety and fatigue to the more serious depression and eating disorders. Perfectionist concerns can even contribute to early mortality.
Hill explains that the concerns of fears and doubts are more crippling to perfectionists, which can contribute to burnout and a cynical attitude that can spiral into interfering with personal relationships. The perfectionist doesn’t see one mistake, they see a colossal failure, which makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible for them to bounce back after a defeat.
How To Harness Perfectionism for Success
Whereas a student can earn higher marks that can lead to being on the Honor Roll and a soccer player can earn a trophy for coming in first place, better performance in the workplace may not be so easily recognized and it can often go overlooked. This simple act of being overlooked may signal to the perfectionist that they did not do well enough to deserve recognition, which can lead them to cynicism, withdrawal, and burnout.
Workplaces can combat burnout in employees by creating positive work environments that reward and recognize effort and perseverance in work contributions.
Hill and the study researchers believe that the best way to avoid burnout with a perfectionist mentality is to set realistic goals, accept failure as a learning opportunity, and forgive yourself after failing.
Perfectionism isn’t a bad character trait; you just have to learn to harness the positive aspects and challenge the negative ones using Hill’s recommendations.
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