If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re the kind of person who reminds your closest friends to rest; meanwhile, you’re powering through a screen headache, three deadlines, and just committed to hosting Friendsgiving. You’re the “I’ll relax when everything is done” type. But the thing is, everything is never done! That’s the trap.
So this blog is for you – the brilliant, hardworking, and chronically over-functioning human who keeps everyone else afloat but forgets that you, too, deserve softness and slowness. And, because we’re herbalists, we’re pairing these reminders with plant allies that were practically made to help high achievers unclench their jaws and breathe deeper.
Reminder #1: You Don’t Have to Earn Your Rest
Rest isn’t a prize at the end of a long, hard-fought journey. Those of us with Type A brains love productivity, running on adrenaline, and the satisfaction of checking things off our to-do lists, but our nervous systems are not machines. We need pauses for breaks, exhales, and just being humans.
Your herbal ally: Blue Vervain
If there were a plant that understood the “gotta push through” mentality, this is the one. It’s the classic Type A match – tall, upright, structured, and excellent at softening the rigid, overextended energy that gets stuck in your neck and jaw when you push too hard for too long. This herb reminds your muscles (and your mind!) that letting go is actually safe.
Reminder #2: Your Worth Isn’t Measured by How Much You Do
Overachievers tend to carry around a mental spreadsheet of expectations, including (but not limited to): be efficient, be the best, be early, be on top of everything you do, ALWAYS. This way of thinking is so exhausting and, also, quite frankly, unnecessary.
Your herbal ally: Skullcap
This nervine herb is a deeply nourishing nervous system tonic that makes you finally ask yourself, “what if enough is actually enough?” Skullcap calms buzzing mental noise, rebuilds frayed nerves over time, and helps you move from being uber concerned about dropping the ball to understanding that the world won’t end if you do.
Reminder #3: Imperfection Isn’t Failure
If you’ve ever rewritten an email 9 times or felt your stomach drop when the dinner you made for your guests didn’t go exactly as you’d planned, you know that perfectionism lives in your body just as much as it lives in your mind.
Your herbal ally: Chamomile
This sweet flower is SO much more than a calming pre-bed tea. It’s a solar plexus softener, meaning that it gently opens the space where your ego, self-worth, and inner belief live. Chamomile soothes your gut, relieves irritability, and makes it easier to loosen your grip on being the perfect version of yourself. Being human is messy, so let yourself be messy!
Reminder #4: You Don’t Have to Hold it All Together Alone
Perfectionists often mask their tension and internal struggles beneath a smile. It’s the “I’m fine” mindset that keeps everyone and everything brewing beneath the surface (like overwhelm, worry, a sense of responsibility, or fear) at arm's length.
Your herbal ally: Agrimony
She sees the person who’s outwardly chill while inwardly gripping. This rose family member herb helps unwind the emotional tension beneath the surface, making space for authenticity instead of composure on command.
Reminder #5: Your Mind Deserves Some Quiet
You probably already know that when your thoughts are buzzing (analyzing, fixing, optimizing, seeking…), it’s not productive. While this kind of mental overachieving is lauded in our achievement and success-based society, it’s actually extremely detrimental to your nervous system. Your mind needs time and space to just ~be~.
Your herbal ally: Bacopa
Bacopa, also known as Brahmi in Ayurvedic traditions, is a nootropic herb that brings circulation, clarity, and coolness to your mind. It slows the spinning out and mental chatter and helps you think clearly.
