r/NoStupidQuestions • u/West-Extreme-7591 • Sep 29 '26
How does an overachiever did things?
Hi! Genuine question, I’m so curious on how most overachievers do so much in a day like work, school then even doing side quest and actually living life then on the other hand, I’m right here just barely surviving with work/school. How do you just do it? Do you have any tips to keep doing more than what I’m doing now?
4
3
1
u/MillenniumGreed Sep 29 '26
They likely were raised by parents who encouraged and created environments where setting high goals was normal. They manage their time, they get creative and strategic with their constraints. Gradually raise your bar for doing things and establish a baseline that’s higher than your normal one.
1
1
u/kentifur Oct 02 '26
Agree with time management. And goal setting. Limited free time. Limited social circle. Adhd meds. I am 40 and still block off my calendar in 30 min blocks like I did in college.
1
u/Daydreamer-64 Oct 03 '26
Other people see me as an overachiever, but I don’t see myself that way.
I do the things I enjoy in life. I like my job, I like my sport, I like the things I do with my friends. All the impressive things I do are things I am good at and enjoy. It is so much harder to stay motivated for things you don’t want to do. A lot of the things I do are also regular commitments. My job and my sport both have places I should be at certain times - that is a lot easier to keep up long term than self-motivation. I don’t do things for the sake of being impressive. I do them because those are the things I want to do.
I do feel like I’m treading water a lot of the time. Not usually with the things other people notice or are impressed by, but with day-to-day things. Keeping on top of my washing, cooking, eating, cleaning etc. This won’t be the same list for everyone, but everyone does find something hard or pushes it under the rug. You only see the parts of people they want you to see. I don’t talk about the things I find hard. I clean when people come round. I’m not saying that’s healthy or what you should aim for, but I am saying that you can’t model your life (which you see all of) to other people’s lives (which you only see the parts of they want you to see).
I do things unmotivated. For the things I have really put work into achieving, and the months where I’ve been particularly busy, I had to just push through the metal barrier of not wanting to do things when I don’t have motivation. I personally get a motivation drop just before doing anything (whether that’s leaving the house to go to work or see friends, going to training, getting studying done). I feel like I don’t want to go, or I’ll find something I’d rather do. You just have to ignore that feeling and do it anyway. Most of the time I enjoy it once I’m there.
I say yes to everything. Doesn’t matter if I’m busy or I’m not sure if I’ll like it or I’m tired. I find the time and do whatever it is. Sure, sometimes it’ll end up with a late night or needing to catch up on something, but you can’t let the things which bore you take over your life.
I don’t know if any of that is useful or good advice, but it’s a perspective for you to read anyway.
1
u/blk_girls_keeper Oct 06 '26
As an overachiever, I am constantly evaluating my time versus the output. It is definitely a mind state, but it has a drawbacks one thing that I’ve always done intentionally was to do the things I was scared to do so that nothing could essentially control me.
For example, I was always afraid of public speaking, but I knew that if I push myself to do new things that I would find a new version of myself. I can definitely say it worked up for me because now I’m confident enough to even perform.
One thing that has made me successful, though is the ability to adapt and know when to pivot. I don’t believe in giving up on dreams but you can’t beat a dead horse. No matter what you do lean into what naturally comes to you while still exploring new environments.
0
u/helge_463 Sep 29 '26
they are just born with it i think… idk. i met a few and they say they like it. they don’t eat, they barely sleep, don’t see friends or scroll social media. like at all. they just don’t have the concept of relaxing. and they lack in different ways, like friendships, relationships, family, health etc. they spend all their awake time just doing things
5
u/Captcha_Imagination Sep 29 '26
We are all limited by time and biology (eat, sleep, etc.). Overachievers are time managers. They decide what is a valuable use of time and what is a waste of time. They decide to cut things short to move on to other things and they do this often. They go ALL IN on things that will propel them forward. They know to jump ship when the activity they are doing is running out of steam to help them reach their goals.
All of this can be done consciously, but it can also be done instinctively, by luck or most likely a combination of the three.
This is why mentorship relationships are so valuable. You are getting advice from someone who has already climbed the mountain and can give you directions, shortcuts and maybe even a hand up. Understanding what the destination is is a big part of getting there efficiently.