375. Perfectionists are more likely to experience burnout
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Being a perfectionist might increase your risk of burnout, according to newly released research in Burnout: A Guide to Identifying Burnout and Pathways to Recovery. Burnout has been increasingly recognized in the workplace in recent years. Symptoms can include constant exhaustion, emotional numbness, and confusion at home or at work. Affected people might display a disconnect from their friends and family or reduced performance at work and in tasks at home. But stress and problems in the workplace are not the only risks for burnout. The guide suggests that stress at home can also trigger burnout. In particular, personality traits, such as being a perfectionist, can play a role. Perfectionists often set unrealistic standards for their own performance, which might be hard to achieve.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
