To achieve success and happiness, high achievers should follow these 8 essentials to prevent anxiety and burnout.

High achievers can attain happiness without it being a myth, as they can lead a successful life with less stress, anxiety, and exhaustion.

Mary Anderson, a psychologist, wrote "The Happy High Achiever" specifically for individuals seeking to accomplish their objectives while maintaining a content and healthy lifestyle.

In her book, she discusses eight crucial elements that can help you achieve success and happiness.

8 essentials for being a 'happy high achiever'

1. Aim for excellence, not perfection

Anderson writes that success requires honoring oneself, mind, body, and spirit, and embracing a range of possibilities rather than a rigid, all-or-nothing mindset.

When working on projects, she recommends using the equation for excellence: happy, healthy, and high-achieving.

• Prioritize positive feelings and behaviors that decrease, not increase, your stress levels.
• Keeping good health requires maintaining healthy habits, such as getting enough sleep and eating nutritious food.
• Meaningful goals: Strive for them, but remember you're human and will make mistakes.

2. Invest in your energy

To maintain energy and prevent burnout, Anderson recommends prioritizing self-care through the acronym SELF: sleep, exercise, anticipate positive outcomes, and nourish your body.

Getting a good night's rest, moving your body daily, planning exciting activities with your loved ones, and eating nutritious foods that fuel your body are crucial for maintaining good health.

To conserve energy while working, tackle the most challenging tasks first and avoid overloading your to-do list, she advises.

3. Approach uncertainty with a curious mind

Embrace uncertainty instead of running away from it, Anderson advises.

No matter what happens, you possess the ability to solve problems.

Positive self-talk can help you feel hopeful and excited about new opportunities.

4. Develop healthy connections

Collaborating with others can have a significant impact on both your own and their trajectories, Anderson argues.

Research at Harvard shows that maintaining positive relationships can increase your happiness and improve your health.

Anderson refers to those who make you feel your happiest and support you in achieving your dreams as "easy people." These individuals help you relax and shift your focus from your internal, negative thoughts to the external, reality-based present moment, where you are valued.

5. Replace 'shoulds' with 'cans'

The way you express your goals can influence your perception of them. Using phrases like "I should have gone to sleep earlier" or "I should be able to run a marathon" can convey a negative tone, according to Anderson.

"Unbalanced self-talk of this kind is not beneficial as it keeps you stagnant without providing practical steps for transformation."

According to Anderson, starting sentences about your goals with "I can" motivates you to take action.

6. Lead with gratitude

Gratitude practice can increase happiness levels, studies indicate, making it particularly beneficial during challenging periods.

Anderson argues that practicing gratitude-based thinking during challenging times can help reduce anxiety and make it easier to cope.

Consistently writing in gratitude journals is linked to engaging in habits that lead to greater success, such as exercising more and getting more sleep, according to researcher Robert Emmons, who wrote a book called "Gratitude Works."

7. Celebrate your victories

Celebrating success often is a hallmark of high achievers.

You can either go out to dinner, buy yourself a nice gift, or take a trip somewhere you've always wanted to go, Anderson suggests. Additionally, you can choose to journal about how the achievement makes you feel or use the excitement you have to do something nice for someone else, she adds.

The point is that your achievements should be celebrated.

Using past successes as motivation to achieve future triumphs.

8. Choose meaningful goals

According to Arthur C. Brooks, a leading happiness expert, having a purpose is one of the most important things for happiness. When you set goals that align with your values and passions, you're more likely to put in the effort to achieve them.

Consider asking yourself these questions when reflecting on your purpose, as suggested by Anderson.

• What is my ultimate goal in life?
• How can I express that I have made a positive impact on my community, environment, or the world through my contributions?
• How do I want to be remembered by future generations?

"Anderson suggests that now is the ideal moment to consider what you want to dedicate your time, energy, and life to in order to create a legacy that you cherish."

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