Is Perfection Ruining Our Health?

A highlight of the week :

I have been a patient of over-optimization syndrome myself. 

It is a disease you can catch from the internet by watching a Dr. Andrew Huberman or Ali Abdal video and falling down the rabbit hole of perfect morning routines, life-changing habits, expensive supplements, and the hope of making millions of dollars as a side hustle.

"Over-optimization syndrome" in personal development refers to the unhealthy obsession with constantly trying to improve and "optimize" every aspect of one's life to the point where it becomes detrimental, leading to anxiety, burnout, and a distorted sense of self-worth, often stemming from a relentless pursuit of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations. 

Why Do We Optimize in the First Place?

Most people optimize their lives for health, productivity, or financial success. The goal is to feel happier and live longer and healthier. 

But instead of achieving more, they get stuck in an endless loop of trying to perfect everything.

When Optimization Goes Wrong

Too much of anything can be bad, which applies to healthy food, healthy habits and even the pursuit of greatness. 

“It is the dose that makes the poison”.

There are a few symptoms that people suffering from his syndrome often show : 

Constant self-criticism: Always finding flaws in oneself and focusing on what needs to be improved, even when already achieving significant goals.

Comparison to others: Constantly comparing oneself to others and feeling inadequate if not reaching the same level of "optimization". 

Rigidity in routines: Adhering to strict schedules and habits with little flexibility, even when circumstances change. 

Fear of missing out (FOMO): Feeling anxious about not trying every new "optimization" technique or self-improvement trend. 

Focus on metrics and numbers: Overly relying on quantifiable data to measure personal progress, neglecting the qualitative aspects of well-being.

Negative impacts of over-optimization syndrome: 

What happens is that instead of becoming better physically, mentally, financially and socially we become overloaded by trying to do too many “ideal” things at the same time which impacts us negatively. 

Burnout: Constant pressure to improve can lead to exhaustion and a lack of motivation. 

Reduced enjoyment of life: Focusing too much on "optimizing" can take away the pleasure from everyday experiences. 

Social isolation: Difficulty connecting with others due to a constant need to self-improve. 

Anxiety and stress: Worrying about not being "good enough" or making the "optimal" choices

The Solution:

If you have been grinding the same thought then I have some pointers for you which can make your days a little easier to live. 

Simplify and Focus on What Matters : 

Identify key lifestyle pillars (e.g., health, productivity, mental well-being). 

Learn from trusted sources: not everyone who advises on the internet is qualified to do so. They have no idea of what your priorities are, what your lifestyle is and what your limitations are. 

I run this process in my head before taking any advice seriously -

Internet advice -> check sources ( google, back story of creator, qualification) -> my priorities (can I afford to sacrifice more time or money for it) -> does it eat into the habits that are already working for me?  then decide yes or no. 

The 80/20 Rule : 

An Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto (1848-?) first observed that 20% of his pea plants produced 80% of his healthy pea pods. 

He also observed that 20% of the population in Italy owned 80% of the land. 

From this, we get the Pareto principle which says that “ 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes”

Once we start thinking from this perspective, it becomes easy to identify the key variables that affect the most outcomes in our lives; the rest is just noise.

Take the example of our health : 

If you have time to get good quality sleep 6-8 hrs on most days, 

You are not overweight, 

You generally eat a balanced diet of carbs, proteins, fat and fibre, 

You get time to walk and lift weights regularly, 

You meet your friends once in a while

You don't feel the need to drink your way to sleep or crave junk to improve your mood.

If you do a health checkup once a year and take necessary supplements or treatments if any, 

then you don’t need any more optimization.

you need to stop hyper-obsessing over tiny details and let some time pass without being productive. try having a chill time with your loved ones instead.

In the case of money, 

If you have some savings, 

Understand that investments should beat inflation.

And don’t splurge impulsively

then you don’t need any more optimization.

Rest everything is noise.

It's optional. It’s a bonus.

Closing thoughts : 

The Law of Diminishing Returns states that after a certain point, increasing effort leads to smaller and smaller gains—until the extra effort becomes counterproductive.

Too many optimizations—whether in productivity, health, or finances—end up taking more time than they’re worth.

The goal isn’t to be perfectly optimized and live like a robot.

The goal of self-improvement is to have more time, freedom, and fulfilment.

Find the sweet spot where effort brings the highest return, and avoid the trap of chasing marginal, meaningless gains.

I would like to hear from you.

Reply with a suggestion, question or just say “Hi”

Cheers,

Dr. Vishal.