Personality?

Insight and evidence is growing that certain personality-traits somehow come together with a heightened risk for burnout.

Perfectionism
is one of them. Just imagine that you think of yourself that you have to be perfect in all your acts and performances for some 110%. Then live up to it. Relalize what is happening to you. Your free time will decline and you will be often disappointed in yourself. Chances are that no-one around you will notice your intentions and efforts. Then imagine that you handle your business like that for twenty years on end. Realize the energy it took from you and think what is has brought back to you (probably hardly anything). Do you feel exhaustion coming up? When in my consulting-room I push this subject a bit further, it often appears there is a different motivation behind it all. Those perfectionists often are very sensitive to

Social perspectives.
Expensive word? Oh yes. I usually explain it by asking: "Would you often look at youtself through the eyes of another?" Or, are you continuously thinking: "What would such and such say of me now?" If indeed that gives a strong motive for your acts, if really your behavior is steered by such considerations, then of course chances are that you go against your own ideas. Chances are also that you are spending your energy not too well. Not to worry for the single occasion, we all do it sometimes. If this however comes down to a lifelong exhausting pattern of behavior, of course it can cost you dearly in the end.