This is the final post in the burnout series ahead of the summer holidays. Perfectionism has shown up throughout the series but in this post, it sits right at the heart of the matter.
It will explore why perfectionists are especially susceptible and how the need for constant improvement drives patterns that lead to burnout and makes recovery more difficult.
The perfectionist profile
Perfectionism can seem like an inside job. This is because perfectionists typically have a lot of drive and a wealth of internal dialogue that pushes them to continually strive forwards. But they are ultimately driven by the need to externally perform.
Their biggest fear is getting something wrong. This is because even a really small mistake could lead to negative feedback from others. So, in order to ensure they don’t make mistakes, perfectionists put in an enormous amount of work behind the scenes.
They don’t like to discuss their process because that could risk judgement. Their goal is to make everything look effortless. So they avoid the spotlight shining on any flaws and they will take on enormous amounts of work or tasks without showing any struggle or asking for help.
How perfectionism drives the burnout cycle
Perfectionism is a natural burnout driver. This is because its mechanics focus on a relentless need for performance. It creates a combination of needing to be seen to be coping and being terrified of being seen to fail. This means perfectionists are able to put the needs of others or their employer ahead of their own wellbeing.
They can become fearful of taking time off or showing any strain. They can remain doggedly committed to the original plan, even after their colleagues have checked out weeks or months ago. Their inner critic and anxiety about being wrongly judged can keep them detached from the early signs of burnout emotionally and physically. For them, stress and busyness are part of what’s needed to feel like they are achieving and so they can miss the clues.
Why recovery is harder for perfectionists
Burnout can be incredibly difficult for perfectionists to wrap their head around. This is partly because it can feel like failure. And failure is the very thing they have done their utmost to avoid.
Also, perfectionists typically have a highly active inner critic. This is the filter through which they keep their high standards in check. It can mean that they ruminate at length over all the scenarios, issues and people that have been involved in the events that led to their burnout. Their need to find answers and reasons why burnout has happened to them can mean they can become stuck in a loop of anxiety and rumination that can be debilitating for a while.
These factors also mean that recovery can take longer for perfectionists than for others. Their inner critic makes it hard to get the rest their mind and body needs. Their focus on the word ‘should’ means they feel they should have bounced back faster and should be back at work sooner.
Unless they recognise the role, their perfectionism has played in their burnout, it can keep interfering with how they recover.
The beginning of something different
Burnout doesn’t happen to people who don’t care. Recovery doesn’t follow a fixed schedule. For perfectionists, recognising that their perfectionism has played a key role in why they have reached burnout is an important learning. From this realisation, they can choose to do things differently moving forwards which can reduce their risk of it happening again and set the groundwork for a better relationship with themselves.
You can read other posts in the Burnout series using the links below:
Burnout: Why You Might Be Vulnerable
Why Rest Alone Doesn’t Fix Burnout
Fawning and Burnout – When Being Accommodating Backfires at Work
