How To Be Ambitious (Without Burning Out)

I’ve been called “ambitious” more times than I can count on my hands and toes. Ambitious when I tried to make a huge chocolate cake frosted like a rabbit for Easter. Ambitious when I told my art professor I was going to fill my entire canvas with tiny swirls in less than one week. Ambitious. when I decided to write for 5 publications in one semester (aka my life right now). Ambitious when I started a blog. Most of those things ended up being successes. Others were failure by ambition.

While being ambitious is a generally good thing, seeing as it means “having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed,” the line between being ambitious and being in over your head is a fine one. So, from one ambitious millennial to another, here is some advice on keeping your ambition positive, avoiding being overwhelmed and being satisfied with your successes. 

1. Take on new tasks thoughtfully.

Don’t become a “Yes” man. Saying “Yes” can be beneficial, but you have to throw in your fair share of “No” as well. Prioritize events, assignments, etc. If you have a huge paper due tomorrow but your friend wants you to help with a bake sale, be smart amount making commitments. Being involved and being ambitious can be amazing, but stretching yourself too thin can lead to a serious breakdown and burnout.

2. It’s okay to say no.

There was a point where I applied for dozens of online writing positions because I figured if I was lucky I would get one. The truth is, I was undermining myself. While you should always apply to a lot of internships and positions so you keep your options open, believe in yourself and be ready to reject an offer or two if need be. You don’t have to say yes just because you were accepted or received an offer. If you have a lot on your plate and can’t give an opportunity your all, don’t half-ass it. Like the great Ron Swanson once said,

Those are some serious words to live by.

3. Consider more than your resume.

I’m admittedly obsessed with making my resume into this godly, beautiful thing to which no potential employer could say no to.  I’m talking a TON of relevant work experience. Seeing as I want to be a writer, I’ve taken to writing for so many publications and interning and editing and working at all sorts of relevant places because I genuinely want to and I want my resume to be chock-full of beautiful achievements and experience. This is on the verge of crossing the line from ambitious to overwhelmingly burn out.

Pick a few things and stick to them. Give the few things your all! It’s okay to do multiple things at once, but if it’s taking a toll on you or seriously impacting your social/academic life, reconsider. If you’re not giving something your best, reconsider. If you’re working with three companies and one is prestigious but very demanding and does not make you happy, one is somewhat known and not very demanding and one is not very known but it makes you very happy to work with it comes down to happiness. Yes, one company might be better for your resume but your happiness is invaluable. Experience is experience regardless of the company name.

4. Quitting doesn’t make you a quitter.

My view on ambitiously living is to take on the tasks and positions I want and see if I can handle them. It’s like doing a test drive. If, at the end of the month, I find that writing for four different publications AND my blog becomes too much for me to balance with work, school and play, I’ve promised myself that I will quit or take a break from one. When you’re overwhelmed and know you must drop something, be wise about your decision. Before quitting anything, make sure you look over contracts to see if you can. Before quitting you might wish to discuss changing your time commitment or post quota, etc. with the company. It doesn’t hurt to try.

Be honest with the organization or company and say you’ve loved working with them but are currently overwhelmed. Perhaps they’ll save you a seat, even if they do not, you still have experience with the company and have some great connections. Quitting can be the best decision. Burning yourself out because of ambition and fear of feeling like a failure when you quit is never a good plan.

5. Make plans and stick to them.

If you have three articles for three different websites due next Friday, make plans to get some done throughout the week. I’m not telling you to plan out every hour of your life, but set deadlines for yourself that are before the actual deadlines. This applies to all aspects of life from class to career. History paper due Thursday? Schedule yourself to have it done on Tuesday. Articles due every Sunday of the month? Have some back up articles just in case you’re having a busy week and can’t write. Blog posts? Schedule them in advance! I have my blog posts scheduled weeks in advance because I know, realistically, I can’t write blog posts twice a week during the school year. Having your own deadline and the actual deadline gives you leeway and helps you avoid rushing to meet deadlines or even missing them. The first sign that ambition has become overwhelming is when you miss deadlines or are constantly rushing to fulfill your demands.

6. Set realistic and bite-sized goals.

Okay, setting a goal to “Be a millionaire by the age of 23” is not what I’m talking about. I mean goals like “Get accepted to Her Campus’ Blogger Network by the end of the year” or “Get an internship for the summer!” Goals that are achievable, realistic and not extreme will set a clear and ambitious path. Goals will keep you on track and keep your ambition controlled and documented. Of course, don’t be afraid to throw in the occasional overly-ambitious goal. You wouldn’t be yourself without it.

All in all, keeping your life balanced and keeping yourself busy (but not too busy) is how to be ambitious without totally losing yourself and burning out. It’s as simple as that.

How do you stay ambitious without overwhelming yourself?

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