Doing Your Best Shouldn't Break You: Redefining Achievement Without Sacrificing Your Wellbeing

There’s a quiet kind of pain that comes from always pushing yourself. The kind that builds when you keep showing up, day after day, while your body begs for rest and your mind starts to fray. We’re praised for being strong, for pushing through, but rarely asked how we’re really doing. Somewhere along the line, “doing your best” turned into self-neglect. We confuse exhaustion with effort. Achievement with worth. And we forget that our best work should never come at the cost of our health.

The Myth of Maximum Output

We've been taught that productivity equals worth. That if we’re not constantly achieving, we’re falling behind. This mindset ignores a crucial truth. Overworking isn’t a sign of strength. It’s a red flag. You’re not a machine. You’re a human being with limits, needs, and rhythms. When we ignore that reality, we end up paying the price. Chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and a disconnect from the things that actually matter.

Redefining “Your Best”

“Your best” should take your humanity into account. It's what you can do without sacrificing your sleep, skipping meals, or losing your joy. It’s giving effort in a way that respects your health. Not one that endangers it.

Let’s be clear. This doesn’t mean never pushing yourself. Growth often requires discomfort. But there’s a difference between stretching yourself and breaking yourself.

Signs You’ve Crossed the Line

If you’re not sure whether you’re in a healthy place with your goals, here are some signs you might be overdoing it:

• You feel anxious or guilty when you rest.

• You’re constantly exhausted, even after a full night's sleep.

• You’ve lost interest in things you used to enjoy.

• You’re having more physical symptoms. Headaches, muscle tension, or digestive issues.

• You’re short-tempered, emotionally numb, or just plain burned out.

A Better Way to Measure Success

What if we started measuring success by how balanced we feel, instead of how much we produce?

• Did I show up fully present today?

• Did I respect my body’s needs?

• Did I protect time for rest and relationships?

• Did I make progress, not perfection, toward my goals?

That’s what doing your best really looks like.

Give Yourself Permission

You don’t need to earn rest. You don’t need to destroy yourself to prove your worth. You’re allowed to set boundaries. To say no. To take breaks. To do less and still be doing your best.

Real success isn’t about how much you accomplish when you ignore your health. It’s about what you can achieve while honouring it.

Call to Action

Start redefining what “your best” looks like, on your terms, not anyone else’s. Let this be the moment you choose your wellbeing over unrealistic expectations.

Your Action Plan: 5 Steps to Protect Your Health While Still Showing Up

1. Check In Daily: Ask yourself: How do I feel physically? Mentally? Emotionally? Let the answers guide your effort, not override it.

2. Define Realistic Goals: Set goals that stretch you, but don’t deplete you. Focus on consistency over intensity.

3. Build Rest Into Your Routine: Schedule rest like you would a meeting. It’s not a luxury, it’s fuel.

4. Say No Without Guilt: Practice setting boundaries without over-explaining. “No” is a full sentence.

5. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Output: Give yourself credit for showing up, even if it wasn’t perfect. Progress counts. Presence matters.

   
   

You're allowed to protect your peace and still pursue your goals. The two aren’t opposites, they’re allies.

With love and support,

Cathryn Benjamin-Brodt

Mindset & Life Coach | Yoga Teacher | Wellness Advocate

Helping you come home to yourself—one breath, one belief, one breakthrough at a time.

Follow me on Instagram for more tips on living authentically, embracing wellness, and transforming your mindset.