The Myth of ‘Doing It All’—3 Reasons High-Achievers Are Secretly Drowning

The Lie We Keep Telling Ourselves

For years, I believed the ultimate sign of success was being able to say, "I can handle it all."

And trust me… I did.

• I took on every new opportunity that came my way.

• I said yes to things I didn’t have time for because I could make time.

• I convinced myself that as long as I was juggling everything, I was succeeding.

But here’s what I wasn’t saying out loud:

I was exhausted. Stretched so thin that even when I was “keeping up,” I felt like I was always one step away from dropping all the balls.

And worst of all…

I thought that was normal.

Why ‘Doing It All’ Is a Trap

High-achievers love a challenge (hi, it’s me, I’m the problem, it’s me). So we fall into the "I can handle it" trap over and over again.

But here’s what we don’t realize in the moment:

1. ‘Doing It All’ Doesn’t Mean You’re Doing It Well

You might be keeping up, but are you thriving? Are you actually present in your own life?

Because when your time, energy, and focus are spread across too many things, you end up feeling like:

📌 You’re half-assing everything instead of excelling at the things that matter.
📌 You’re constantly switching gears, never fully focused on one thing.
📌 Even your wins feel empty (because they come at the cost of your sanity).

2. If Everything Is a Priority, Nothing Is

I once had a mentor tell me:

“You can have everything you want. You just can’t have it all at once.”

At the time, I hated that advice. I thought, watch me prove you wrong.

But now… I get it.

Not everything deserves equal energy. Some things need to be front and center. Others can sit on the back burner. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re strategic.

3. The ‘Superhuman Standard’ Is a Lie

Somewhere along the way, we started glorifying the idea that the best people are the ones who do it all, all the time, with a smile.

Let me say this louder for the people in the back:

Success isn’t about how much you can juggle. It’s about what you choose to focus on.

Signs You’re Secretly Drowning

Let’s do a gut check. If these hit a little too close to home, it might be time to re-evaluate:

💡 You’re the go-to person for EVERYTHING… at work, at home, in friendships. And you love being reliable, but it’s starting to feel like a weight (even if you don’t want to admit it outloud).

💡 You feel guilty when you have free time. Because if there’s an open hour on your calendar, shouldn’t you fill it with something productive?

💡 You’re constantly multi-tasking, but no matter how much you do, your to-do list never seems to get any shorter.

💡 Even your wins feel exhausting. You should be celebrating… but all you can think about is what’s next.

💡 You’ve hit the “I don’t even know what I want anymore” stage. Because after doing everything for everyone, your own goals feel like a distant thought.

(If you’re nodding along, don’t worry… you’re not alone. I’ve 100% been there too. And honestly, I’m still on the journey.)

How to Let Go of ‘Doing It All’ (Without Feeling Like You’re Giving Up)

Breaking free from the overachiever hustle trap isn’t about lowering your standard. Not even close. It’s about redefining what success actually means.

1. Decide What Actually Matters Right Now

Not everything needs your energy. Not everything deserves your time.

Take a step back and ask:
✨ What do I care about most in this season of life?
✨ What do I want to be excellent at?
✨ What am I doing just because I feel obligated?

If you’re pouring equal energy into things that don’t serve you, it’s time to shift your focus.

2. Trade ‘More’ for ‘Better’

Instead of measuring success by how much you get done, start measuring by how well you do the things that matter.

• Instead of saying yes to 10 things, say yes to 3 things you can do exceptionally well.

• Instead of cramming your schedule full, build in actual space to breathe and think.

• Instead of glorifying ‘busy,’ prioritize impact, depth, and presence.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Pause

Ok, this one hits SUPER close to home. The hardest truth I had to accept:

🚫 Pausing doesn’t mean you’re falling behind.
🚫 Doing less doesn’t mean you’re failing.
🚫 Slowing down doesn’t mean you’ve lost your drive.

Not every season is meant to be a sprint. And some of the most important things happen in the quiet, in the space, in the moments where you finally have room to think.

You Don’t Have to Carry It All

What if success wasn’t about doing more but about doing what actually matters?

What if instead of chasing “I can do it all”, you started asking “What do I actually want to be doing?”

Because the truth is you don’t have to carry it all.
You never did.

So maybe today’s the day you put something down.

Break first. Bloom later. Choose wisely.

🌿 Kris