We Kid You Not Childfree Forums

Are you an overachiever or an underachiever? Or in the middle? Or have you changed as you've gotten older?

Please cite examples.

I'm a total underachiever. I cannot fathom overachievers. I wanted to post this thread because I just found out that an acquaintence is going back to school for her PhD. She's 30yo, has a full-time job that is VERY time-intensive, she lives alone with three dogs, and does tons of volunteer work and extra work at her job.

WTF? I barely make it working full-time, let alone going to school in a graduate program, working a million extra hours at work and having dogs!

My sister is similar - she and her husband are both doctors, they race in adventure races (24-48hour races) around the country and have three kids. She also volunteers at her kid's school.

Another old friend went to school for her PhD while working full time and raising 2 kids - her DH was working FT and going to law school at night during all this.

I'm either extremely lazy or just like my quiet time too much, I guess!

Cats -- could it be a matter of energy levels? I'm an overachiever in the things I want, and an underachiever in the things I don't care for (like housecleaning, which I'm doing now). I'm also a low-energy person -- if I'm not into it, it takes a lot of energy for me to do it.

Yeah, I voted 'in the middle' as I consider myself to be insanely overachieving by my own standards (I've done pretty much everything I've ever set my mind to doing) but it's nothing by society's standards. I've never been to university, I don't have a title or a fancy career. But I have achieved almost all of my life's goals, so that makes me an over achiever as far as I'm concerned.

I put middle too - this is hard. I have changed some I guess. I feel like I could change even from day to day or week to week. Also depends. I worked a lot of temp jobs so some I wouldn't care about and be lazy, others I'd really try to go above and beyond.

I'm notoriously lazy and unmotivated. Been that way my entire life.

PrairieGirl Wrote:(like housecleaning, which I'm doing now).

No, you're not! You're goofing off on the computer!

CF Scorpio Wrote:

PrairieGirl Wrote:(like housecleaning, which I'm doing now).

No, you're not! You're goofing off on the computer!

See! Underachiever.....and here I am, back on the computer, when the groceries need purchasing, the floor needs mopping. I have a list though -- that puts me ahead of the game!

I'm so glad to see so many other underachievers here. I'm seriously lazy.

I said in the middle for the same reasons cited, as I'm not spectacular by society's standards but I'm thrilled with my life.

Here's how to feel like you are underachieving: See an article in the national news about how the government has hired your former class-mate who has a PhD from Harvard and is the Prime-Minister's best friend, and they are *so* lucky to get him. I know I wouldn't want his life so there is no jealousy, but the tone of the article left all those who knew him going "Huh. I don't remember seeing anything similar when I got my government job!"

I used to be a super-overachiever, but I've done a complete 180 after I got out of college. I'm so lazy that it's almost embarrassing.

I think multiple things contributed to it. First, between school and my job, I had NO free time. At all. Since I was 13 until I was 24. After graduating, I had nights to do what I wanted, and I rather enjoyed it. That pretty much killed any desire I had to climb the corporate ladder. I love having a life outside of work, and I can never see myself working 90+ hours a week anymore. And seeing as my "bottom rung" job that I lost last year had me working 12 hours a day, I'm somewhat content being the low man on the totem pole.

Secondly, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital since college, and it's made me frighteningly aware of my mortality. I won't live to be as old as "normal" people will. When I look back on my life, I don't want it to consist of sitting at a desk doing filing.

Lastly, related to the first reason, I think working round-the-clock for over 10 years just completely burned me out, and I've never really recovered.

So yeah, I kinda like being lazy for once. XD

I would like to be an overachiever, but I didn't use to think this. In reality I think I am an underachiever, so I guess that makes my answer in the middle. I let procrastination get in the way of my achievements.

Boy Cats - having a sister like that would make me feel like a total loser. I don't understand how people manage to do all those things.

I remember many years ago, I was at a boyfriend's house who lived with his parents. I think I was maybe 17 or so. His mother told me she thought I was lackadaisical. I said to myself, I think that is a nice of way saying lazy...OH well. and that was that.

Total underachiever. Seriously, I am not the go get 'em type.

I guess I'm the lone overachiever (at least so far). If I am going to do something, I want to do it right and put forth my best effort. After all my medical woes, one of the things I had to work on was allowing myself to try new things that I knew I would not necessarily be great at just to allow myself to have the experience of doing something that was good for me but would be difficult. My body has always been my weakness. I am terribly klutzy, not terribly attractive, and afflicted with various chronic conditions I struggle with. With the exception of advanced math and related concepts, as well as some foreign languages, however, learning has always come very easily to me. I am at my best when I'm very busy doing a lot of things that allow me to think through problems and design courses of actions to make things different or better. My boss knows that if he wants something done right and on time, I'm the one to come to. I'm also very active in my synagogue.

I am trying to do better with keeping my work and outside projects in perspective and make more time for just hanging out with DH and our pets. Saturday is "no computer day" during the day most weeks, and we try to plan at least one fun activity outside the house each week now.

I'm a major under achiever.

When I was little and in school I was mostly an over achiever- a total perfectionist. I was at the top of my class and did well on everything without stressing out about a few missed points here and there. It was a nice balance. I picked up almost everything I did easily, so that helped. When I didn't get something right away though I'd get super frustrated and I still do.

The difference is that now I don't care. If I don't get something the first time I read, hear or see it I let it go.

As far as achievement? I am a great mom to my pets and find that to be fulfilling for me. I have a crappy job, no degree and no job prospects and while that's annoying, I don't really care. If I cared I'd pull out my over achievement hat and get to work on it- right?

I'm way too lazy for that.

That being said, I'm in school now and have been trying to do everything perfectly but I'm already burnt out. I'm having a hard time learning how to sacrifice one grade and choosing not to do some work so I have time to do the other stuff, but it keeps me sane when I do stick to the plan.

So now I'm a total underachiever with bouts over over achievement potential.

~

I'm kinda in the middle. I could have been an overachiever, but in jr high I realized that my parents put my older brother on this high pedistal - I knew I would never be as good, so I just decided to be mediocre.