The Hidden Cost of Over-Optimization

Why high performers burn out - and what actually needs optimizing.

I was scrolling 𝕏 last week when I came across another “elite performance routine.”

• Wake up at 4:17am.

• Cold plunge.

• Two deep-work blocks.

• Macro tracking.

• Color-coded calendar.

• Evening recovery protocol.

Hundreds of thousands of likes. Comments full of: “This is discipline,” “Leveling up,” “No excuses.” And it hit me again:

Most high earners don’t just burn out from work.
They burn out from trying to optimize their entire life.

This isn’t about laziness or lack of ambition. It’s the opposite. When optimization becomes a standard - something you feel obligated to maintain - you eventually hit a point where your systems start running you.

And it’s happening everywhere.

The Optimization Pressure

Optimization culture spreads the same way financial misinformation spreads: Controversy goes viral. Nuance doesn’t.

Nobody shares a post about:

• Consistent exercise

• Simple financial systems

• Basic time blocking

• Restful weekends

• Sustainable routines

But an extreme schedule? A biohacking stack?A 14-step morning protocol?

That gets attention - and attention is monetized. Take Ashton Hall for example. This guy has amassed a following 18 million people just posting morning routines that are an absolutely ridiculous and unrealistic expectation for 99.99% of the population.

Just like the influencers calling 401(k)s a scam to sell a “better way,” (if you don’t know what I’m talking about be sure to check out our newsletter from last week!) there’s an entire industry built around telling high achievers they’re not doing enough.

• Performance coaching.

• Habit apps.

• Wearables.

• Supplements.

• Time-tracking systems.

• “Elite routine” courses.

The message is always the same: If you’re not maximizing every minute, you’re falling behind. That belief is where burnout begins.

What Over-Optimization Actually Looks Like

When we work with high earners making $150K, $300K, $500K+, I rarely see people who are unmotivated or undisciplined.

I see people who are exhausted.

Over-optimization shows up quietly:

• You feel guilty resting.

• Your hobbies turn into goals.

• Every decision needs a system.

• Recovery becomes another task.

• Your day feels tight, even when you’re not “busy.”

• You lose spontaneity because it’s “off-plan.”

Your life becomes organized - but not enjoyable. And here’s the paradox:

Optimization is supposed to create freedom. But it often eliminates it.

The ROI of Optimization (and Where It Breaks)

Optimization works - up to a point.

At $100K–$200K income

Small improvements matter. Better routines, better energy, better focus = meaningful career growth.

At $250K–$400K

Returns start flattening. You get marginal gains, but the stress load increases.

At $500K+

Hyper-optimization often reduces performance:

• Low creativity

• Decision fatigue

• Strained relationships

• Declining sleep and recovery

• Zero mental space

The more complex your work and life become, the more valuable margin becomes. At a certain point, the best optimization isn’t adding more systems. It’s removing the ones that drain you.

The Long-Term Cost

Here’s where I see this catch up with people:

You hit 40 or 50 with:

• Strong income

• Strong savings

• Significant career success

…but a calendar that feels suffocating and a life that feels small.

Clients say things like:

• “I don’t know who I am outside work.”

• “I get everything done, but I’m tired all the time.”

• “My whole day feels like checklists.”

• “I’m productive, but I’m not present.”

They followed every optimization trend. They maximized everything. And somehow, their life became narrower instead of wider.

So What Should You Optimize?

High performers don’t need more optimization. They need the right optimization.

These are the things that produce meaningful returns:

• Energy (what fuels you)

• Recovery (sleep, rest, downtime)

• Time freedom (white space on the calendar)

• Relationships (family, friends, community)

• Health (not just workouts, but overall longevity)

• Financial Systems that run automatically

• Simplicity (fewer moving parts)

The things that don’t produce long-term returns?

• 14-step morning routines

• Over-engineered habit stacks

• Extreme productivity tools

• Constant tracking

• Schedules with zero flexibility

Every high performer I know who reaches true freedom ends up simplifying - not adding more.

Why This Matters

This newsletter isn’t about productivity. It’s about designing a life that scales. Because the truth is simple:

Optimization is great, but has diminishing returns.
Margin does not.

High performers don’t need to do more. They need space to think, rest, create, and be human again. The question isn’t: “How can I optimize more of my life?” It’s: “What can I remove so the important things have room to breathe?”

Share

You’ll see another viral “optimization routine” this week.

New creator. New system. New checklist.

And it will make thousands of people feel behind - despite the fact that most of them don’t need more structure. They need more margin. If you’re with me: look at your calendar this week and remove one thing that’s only there because you feel like you “should” do it.

Give yourself that hour back. That one adjustment will pay you back more than any extreme routine you’ll find online.

See you next week.

Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 other ways we can help you:

1. 30-Day Strategy Sprint: Got a specific financial challenge holding you back? In just 30 days, we’ll tackle 1-3 of your biggest money roadblocks and hand you a personalized action plan. Perfect if you want expert guidance without a long-term commitment. Limited spots available.

2. Ongoing Wealth Partnership: We’ll work with you month after month to slash your taxes, find hidden income opportunities, and build lasting wealth. You set the life goals. We handle the financial strategy to get you there faster.

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Opulus, LLC (“Opulus”) is a registered investment advisor in Pennsylvania and other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply any specific level of skill or training.

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