Slow Living for Overachievers
Photo by Lauren Diaz/Healthful Mindful
“Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat” in Reykjavik, Iceland. To me, this embodies hustle culture burnout.
Growing up, my older sister always called me the “little overachiever.” I was the kind of person who thrived on goals, with each achievement leading to the next. By grade school, I had already set my sights on getting into an Ivy League college. In high school, while others spent their weekends relaxing, I was competing in speech tournaments and debating in Model UN. When I finally got into that Ivy League university, I didn’t stop there. I pursued a dual degree and pushed myself to graduate cum laude. After that, the next goal was a great job, then a promotion, and so on and so on. My life became an endless cycle of striving, always chasing the next achievement.
After years of this, I found myself in my thirties feeling unfulfilled and wondering when I would finally reach the accomplishment that would somehow make me happy. I realized that no matter how much I achieved, happiness was always just out of reach. The finish line kept moving and I was never going to actually reach it. Continuing down the same path wasn’t working. It was time for a change.
Instead of doubling down, pushing harder, and setting another ambitious goal, I decided to do something drastic. I stepped off the treadmill entirely. I quit my job and decided to dedicate the next year to slowing down and finding myself.
I’m not suggesting that everyone needs to quit their jobs in order to live a slower paced life. However, in a world that glorifies busyness, where productivity is worn like a badge of honor, even the idea of slowing down can feel radical. As a recovering perfectionist who has spent a lifetime battling anxiety, I know firsthand how exhausting the constant pressure to achieve can be. But what if we chose a different path rooted in intention, presence, and balance? This is the essence of slow living.
What is Slow Living?
Slow living is a lifestyle that prioritizes mindfulness, intentionality, and a deeper connection to the present moment. Society tells us to “do more, be more, achieve more.” With slow living, we instead focus on quality over quantity, presence over productivity, and well-being over burnout.
Slow living has gained popularity over the last few years as more people push back against hustle culture and look for a more balanced way of life. Personally, I think the pandemic had a big impact on a lot of us, myself included, by showing us that a different way of life could exist. Escaping long commutes and 13 hour days showed me what I had been missing out on. I had been prioritizing work over my own mental health and physical wellbeing.
While “slow living” is popular phrase right now, what it really comes down to is intentionality, mindfulness, and simplicity. Instead of just doing what’s “expected of us,” we can make conscious choices about how we spend our time and energy. By taking the time to slow down, we can truly be present, rather than rushing through life on autopilot, in a constant hurry to accomplish the next thing on our to-do list. As we make these conscious, mindful choices, we let go of the unnecessary and focus on what truly matters to us.
When I first chose to slow down and live a more conscious life, I realized there was a disconnect between what I said mattered most to me and what I was actually prioritizing through my actions. While living on autopilot, I had allowed boundaries to be crossed and priorities to get shifted.
Why Perfectionists and Overachievers Struggle to Slow Down
High achievers are wired to thrive on accomplishment. We equate our worth with how much we do, how well we perform, and how busy we appear. The idea of slowing down can trigger fears of falling behind, being seen as lazy, or losing control. But here’s the truth: constantly striving for more doesn’t lead to fulfillment. It leads to burnout and exhaustion.
Slowing down doesn’t have to mean giving up on ambition. It allows us to redefine success on our own terms. When we recognize that our value isn’t tied to our output, we can decide what is important to us and what we want our goals to be.
How to Embrace Slow Living
Photo by Lauren Diaz/Healthful Mindful
If the thought of slowing down feels foreign or even uncomfortable, you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to ease into a slow living mindset:
1. Redefine Productivity
Productivity is the cornerstone of hustle culture. We often measure our day by how much we were able to accomplish and how many tasks we crossed off our to-do lists. The next time you reflect upon your day, consider how present and intentional you were. Ask yourself: Did I enjoy my day? Did I take care of myself? Did I focus on what truly matters?
2. Create Space for Stillness and Mindfulness
Incorporate moments of stillness into your daily routine. Whether it’s five minutes of deep breathing, a slow morning routine, or an evening walk, find ways to pause and reconnect with yourself.
3. Set Boundaries with Work and Technology
Our modern society is defined by constant connectivity. While generations past may have been able to leave work at the office, today, it follows us everywhere our smart phones go. Set boundaries by creating tech-free time. Limit the hours during which you check your email or answer work calls. Consider setting limits or time restrictions on work-related apps on your phone.
4. Prioritize What Truly Matters
Make a list of your core values and compare them to how you currently spend your time. Are you aligning your life with what’s most important to you? If not, where can you make shifts?
5. Embrace Imperfection
Slow living requires letting go of the need to do everything perfectly. Allow yourself to make mistakes, take breaks, and move at a pace that feels right for you.
The Beauty of Living Slowly
Choosing slow living is choosing a life of intention and joy. Your worth isn’t dependent on how much you accomplish. Savor the small moments, prioritize rest, and create a life that feels fulfilling to you, not impressive to others.
If you’ve been caught by the hustle culture trap, you don’t have to stay there. You have permission to slow down, breathe, and embrace a way of living that nurtures, rather than depletes, your soul.
Are you ready to take the first step toward slow living?
This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.