On December 31st, 2024, you couldn’t scroll social media without seeing recaps and highlight reels of all the accomplishments people had that year. For those who weren’t active on social media, these 2024 highlights made their way to many news and pop culture publications and outlets.
The unintended impact of being constantly inundated with the achievements of others is that it leads you to unconsciously compare your success with theirs. Comparing your success to others can lead to an increase in depression, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with what you did accomplish.
Research from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University agrees, as it shared that burnout often manifests as emotional exhaustion, negativity towards work, and a lack of personal accomplishment. This data highlights the connection between self-comparison and burnout and indicates the emotional consequences of measuring yourself against others on your sense of accomplishment. Reducing social media use can decrease feelings of depression and comparison. A University of Pennsylvania study also shared this sentiment, finding that restricting social media use to ten minutes per platform daily for three weeks significantly reduced loneliness and depressive symptoms.
Findings from both of these studies support the notion that excessive social media usage increases the likelihood of comparing one’s success with others and exacerbates burnout.
Given this evidence, we’ll explore four key strategies leaders can use to combat comparison, remove self-doubt, and feel content with their accomplishments. These approaches are grounded in mindfulness practices, emotional intelligence skills, and values-driven decision-making principles. By incorporating these skills into your leadership practice, you’ll be equipped with the tools to manage the impact of social media highlight reels with ease and confidence.
1. Appreciate The Progress Others Don’t See
The progress that others don’t see is often the achievement you should be most proud of. Regulating your emotions, making sacrifices to improve your health, and spending moments with previously estranged family members are examples of personal progress that get left out of the highlight reel but are still worthy of celebration.
Recognizing your progress means listing your previous year’s wins that weren’t measurable and didn’t seem glamorous. Use this list as a reminder of your accomplishments the next time you feel disappointed about your lack of progress. Leaders who appreciate their accomplishments that others don’t see will find it easier to resist comparing their successes to others.
2. Focus on What You Can Control
Focusing on what others have accomplished prevents you from concentrating on what you can control. This distracts you from progressing toward your goals and prevents you from impacting your industry. Setting goals that align with your values, increasing the effort you’re putting into your personal growth, and being intentional about your social media usage can give you a sense of autonomy and purpose. Redirecting your attention to what you can control will support you in feeling confident, resilient, and grounded in your purpose.
3. Being Busy Doesn’t Equal Productive
Confusing the word “busy” with the word “productive” is just one example of why you might feel disappointed in your accomplishments last year. If you measured the previous year’s achievements by how “busy” you were, it disregards your engagement in meaningful and “productive” work.
Being “busy” indicates that you have many responsibilities and tasks to manage while being “productive” suggests that your time is filled with meaningful work. Conflating being “busy” with being “productive” leads to burnout. Instead, focus on ensuring that your efforts are spent on work that has a long-term impact and aligns with your values rather than on tasks that provide you with short-term validation.
The truth is that the goals you set and the timelines you create often reflect your high expectations. However, to avoid comparing your success to others, the key is to recognize that the urgency you feel is evidence of the pressure you have placed on yourself. The success you truly desire starts with acknowledging the accomplishments you’ve already had, not just focusing on the achievements you didn’t experience.
Now that you understand the critical emotional skills that will support you in feeling confident and at peace with your progress in 2025, here’s what you’ll need to do next. The next time you compare your success to others, choose one of these three strategies. These shifts will help you develop emotional resilience and feel content with your success.