overstriving
Trying too hard
Overstriving is trying too hard, pushing beyond what's healthy or productive in pursuit of a goal.
The term appears most often in psychology and self-help contexts to describe perfectionism or relentless ambition that leads to burnout, anxiety, or diminished wellbeing.
Her therapist suggested that overstriving was behind her chronic exhaustion.
The implication is that striving itself is good, but overstriving crosses into counterproductive territory.
Entirely without fault
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
- exactingDemanding great care
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
obsessive · compulsive · nitpicking · self-critical · impossible · idealistic · unforgiving · harsh
State of utter depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- depletionReduction of supply
- collapseSudden structural failure
- drainedEmptied of resources
overwhelm · cynicism · disillusionment · breakdown · spent · emptiness · crash · worn-out
Strong desire for achievement
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
- driveOperate a vehicle
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- goal-orientedFocused on objectives
advancement · climbing · vaulting · pursuit · hungry · thirst · relentless · competitive
Persistent apprehensive distress
- tensionStretched or strained state
- pressureForce upon contact
- worryTroubled mental state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
restlessness · agitation · cortisol · sleeplessness · tightness · clenching · hypervigilance · frazzled
Excessive effort or action
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- overextendingGoing beyond safe capacity
- immoderateBeyond reasonable bounds
- excessiveSurpassing reasonable bounds
unsustainable · overcommitting · overloading · cramming · stuffing · forcing · straining · white-knuckling
flawless
Entirely without fault
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
- exactingDemanding great care
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
standards · obsessive · compulsive · nitpicking · self-critical · impossible · idealistic · unforgiving · harsh · demanding
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- depletionReduction of supply
- collapseSudden structural failure
drained · overwhelm · cynicism · disillusionment · breakdown · spent · emptiness · crash · worn-out · hollowed
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
- driveOperate a vehicle
- determinationFirmness of purpose
goal-oriented · advancement · climbing · vaulting · pursuit · hungry · thirst · relentless · competitive · status-seeking
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
nervousness · restlessness · agitation · cortisol · sleeplessness · tightness · clenching · hypervigilance · frazzled · overwrought
overdoing
Excessive effort or action
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- overextendingGoing beyond safe capacity
- immoderateBeyond reasonable bounds
excessive · unsustainable · overcommitting · overloading · cramming · stuffing · forcing · straining · white-knuckling · desperate
overstrivingcontentment
Peaceful satisfaction with circumstances
equanimity · self-acceptance · ease · acceptance · letting go
strife, strive, striving, strives, striver, strived, strivers, strivings