The #1 Cause of Burnout Among Busy Professionals — and How to Avoid It

Competing with others might seem like a shortcut to success, but it often leads to burnout and distraction.

Constantly comparing yourself to others pulls you away from your goals, values, and sense of fulfilment. Instead of helping you reach the life you want, this mindset traps you in a cycle of frustration, leaving you feeling that no matter how much you achieve, it’s never enough.

Think about it: when was the last time you felt genuinely fulfilled after comparing yourself to someone else’s achievements? This habit can exhaust you, taking time and energy away from the things you truly want — a life of time and financial freedom. For professionals trying to build a life on their own terms, competing with others is a recipe for burnout, not progress.

The real path to growth and satisfaction? Competing only with the person you were yesterday. Let’s dive into why this shift in mindset can make all the difference.

Why We Feel Compelled to Compete with Others

The urge to compete with others is strong.

We’re taught that success is about outperforming those around us from school to work. Social media doesn’t help either; it bombards us with carefully curated glimpses of…