Perfectionists: Burnout Is More Common In Life

Perfection isn't everything. It can be quite taxing trying to do everything flawlessly all the time. And now, new findings published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Review reveal that those who are constantly putting the pressure on themselves are more likely to burn out and give up.

The latest study consisted of a meta-analysis based of 43 studies over the past 20 years, all examining the relationship between both perfectionism and burnout.

The study specifically zeroed in on "perfectionist strivings" and "perfectionistic concerns." "Perfectionistic strivings" involved setting high personal standards and working towards goals in a pro-active manner while maintaining a sense of accomplishment and delaying debilitating effects of burnout. Yet on the other hand, "perfectionistic concerns" involved more detrimental issues, such as constantly worrying about mistakes, like letting others down or messing up in general, leading to depression, fatigue and anxiety.

"People need to learn to challenge the irrational beliefs that underlie perfectionistic concerns by setting realistic goals, accepting failure as a learning opportunity, and forgiving themselves when they fail," lead researcher Andrew Hill, an associate professor of sport psychology at York St. John University in England, said in a news release. "Creating environments where creativity, effort and perseverance are valued also would help."

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