How to Avoid the Trap of “Success Fatigue” and Stay Energised

Being in a successful position, leading a crew of aspiring individuals, meeting all the expectations and high benchmarks, and going forward and upward continuously is not at all easy. Success fatigue can be a highly stressful phase. Read on to learn ways to overcome it. 

Can Success be exhausting? 

Success is often celebrated, and also the position successful people hold is coveted by many. Whether it’s social status, luxury, respect, power, or the limelight, all these glittery aspects are envied and aspired to by many. But what’s on the other side of the coin?” With success comes the burden of more responsibilities and ever-increasing expectations. Successful people who constantly push themselves to their limits, under the unending pressure to achieve more—both from others and themselves—can become overwhelmed and exhausted. This phase where they touch emotional burnout is called “success fatigue.”

Read More: Signs You are Born to be a Leader, According to Psychology

Signs of success fatigue 

You have continuously progressed, making every milestone count! You managed all the ups and downs life has to offer and kept accomplishing one goal after the other. But as you climb higher, you may sometimes feel lost and empty. This burnout you’re feeling is success fatigue, so look out for the following signs for early intervention: 

• Drop in motivation levels: Even though your past is filled with an impeccable track record of achievements only, you may lack the motivation to set a new goal to pursue. 
• Burnout symptoms: you feel mentally and physically exhausted all the time even after resting. Your mind and body are screaming, “Battery down!”. 
• Increased stress levels: you’re under constant pressure to keep the success streak going. 
• Low satisfaction: once you celebrated your wins, but now there’s no such excitement. 
• No focus and low productivity: you find it difficult to concentrate on your tasks or in making decisions. 
• Emotionally drained: you feel disconnected from work, family, and friends, which all bring you joy once. 
• Physical symptoms: headache, feeling tired, and difficulty in sleeping. 
• Feeling overwhelmed: every day and every task becomes overwhelming and too much to tolerate or handle. 

Falling prey to imposter syndrome—you start doubting your own abilities and feel undeserving of all your accomplishments and recognition. There is a persistent fear of being “exposed” or unmasked as incompetent or incapable of repeating previous successes. This anxiety often gives rise to feelings of depression and unease. If you experience these symptoms, it may be an indication that you’re facing success fatigue. 

Fight the fatigue 

While you’re juggling many responsibilities, you can fight your success fatigue by 

• Practice self-care: Make time for self-care to unwind and reflect. Read a book, get a massage or manicure, hit the gym, get a spa, and eat healthy food on time. Your body will give up on you if you don’t take care of it. When your body feels energised, it reflects the same in your mind. 
• Set goals worth pursuing: running for money can feel so mechanical and tiresome. Try changing your goals in a way that creates an impact on society. For example, a money-minting app idea could also be a solution to the problems of many people. 
• Have a routine outside work: practice your hobbies and develop your hidden talents. Spend quality time with your loved ones. 
• Rediscover your passion: introspect and experiment with different activities and find out what excites you. It could be way out of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself to come out of your comfort zone and work pressures to try something new. 
• Find your own definition of success: is it luxury cars, branded clothes, and a posh lifestyle, or is it a simple lifestyle? Is it profits or giving back to the community or self-improvement? You get to choose the way you define success, not follow the society’s definition blindly. 
• Charity: if success is yours, why not share it? A small percentage of your profits or income could feed many hungry mouths. The joy of spreading smiles can give you a profound sense of purpose, making it all worth it. 
• Share your knowledge: your success journey could inspire so many young minds if only you could share your failures and errors you made candidly. Take community initiatives and skill-sharing workshops to pass on your valuable knowledge. 

Collaboration with like-minded individuals can be a powerful way to combat success fatigue. Connecting with people who share similar achievements allows for the exchange of ideas and insights. Observing how they maintain work-life balance and manage stressful workloads can provide valuable advice and inspiration. Additionally, continuous learning is vital; while you may excel in your field, exploring other industries or disciplines keeps you grounded and broadens your perspective.

Taking regular breaks is equally important—vacations can help you rejuvenate and recharge, preventing burnout. Notably, Deloitte’s 2022 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey highlighted that 54% of respondents reported work-related stress affecting their home lives weekly or daily. As British philosopher Bertrand Russell wisely observed, “One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.” Recognizing this can encourage a healthier balance between ambition and well-being.

Life is not a quick race; it’s a marathon. Pause, breathe, re-evaluate your priorities often, and keep celebrating your small wins. Life isn’t about success and perfectionism all the time. It’s about learning from your blunders!