Written by Malena Sanchez Moccero
Medically reviewed by Susana Pontiggia (Psychologist, Specialist in Neuroscience and Human Behavioral Sciences, Consultant in Personal and Organizational Development)
Striving for perfection can feel like a never-ending battle—especially for millennials. Raised to excel, shaped by social media, and burdened by economic uncertainty, they’ve been called the most perfectionistic generation in history. But how does this obsession with flawlessness affect mental health and career success? Can perfectionism be overcome, or is it an unavoidable trap?
Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—have often been labeled as entitled, lazy, or overly sensitive. Yet recent studies reveal a far more complex reality. On the whole, millennials tend to be deeply perfectionistic, driven by a relentless urge to succeed and meet often unrealistic standards. This pressure has led to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout. But how did we get here? What societal forces have fueled this drive for perfection—and what are the long-term consequences?
The Rise of Perfectionism
Some may frame perfectionism as a strength. But as a quote often attributed to Winston Churchill reminds us: “Perfection is the enemy of progress.”
A landmark 2017 study published in Psychological Bulletin by Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill found that perfectionism has significantly increased among young people in recent decades. The researchers identified three distinct forms of perfectionism:
- Self-oriented perfectionism – placing excessively high expectations on oneself.
- Socially prescribed perfectionism – feeling that others demand perfection.
- Other-oriented perfectionism – expecting perfection from those around you.
Curran and Hill concluded that millennials, more than previous generations, experience all three. They traced the roots of this trend to a mix of cultural, economic, and technological changes that have reshaped how young adults view work, relationships, and self-worth.
“Our findings suggest that self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, and other-oriented perfectionism have increased over the last 27 years,” they write. “We speculate that this may be because, generally, American, Canadian, and British cultures have become more individualistic, materialistic, and socially antagonistic over this period, with young people now facing more competitive environments, more unrealistic expectations, and more anxious and controlling parents than previous generations.”
The Role of Social Media
When the goals are unrealistic, perfectionism can shift from motivating to harmful. One of the strongest forces behind millennial perfectionism is social media. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn promote highly curated versions of reality—where successes are broadcasted, failures edited out, and the pressure to appear flawless is overwhelming. Millennials, who grew up in the digital age, have been conditioned to seek validation through likes, comments, and shares.
Nothing compares to you— but you’re still always comparing yourself to others.
Constant exposure to these idealized lifestyles feeds a culture of comparison, where people measure their worth against the seemingly perfect lives of influencers, coworkers, and peers. This pressure to measure up contributes to anxiety, self-doubt, and chronic dissatisfaction. Studies consistently show a link between heavy social media use and higher rates of anxiety and depression, especially among young adults.
Many millennials feel a constant need to overachieve to secure their future. This drive has fueled the rise of hustle culture.
Under Pressure: Navigating Job Uncertainty in a Tough Economy
Unlike baby boomers—who often enjoyed more stable career paths—millennials entered the workforce during turbulent times, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. These economic shocks have made stable employment, homeownership, and financial security increasingly difficult to attain.
In response, many millennials feel a constant need to overachieve to secure their future. This drive has fueled the rise of hustle culture—a mentality that glorifies long hours, multiple side gigs, and relentless ambition. It promotes the idea that productivity equals self-worth and that individuals should always be striving for more—whether through their main job, side gigs, or personal projects. The idea of “good enough” is no longer acceptable; only excellence will do.
While hustle culture can encourage ambition, it also increases the risk of burnout and chronic stress. It fosters guilt when people take time to rest and blurs the boundaries between work and life, making it harder to unplug.
From a young age, they were told they were special, capable of anything, and expected to excel academically, professionally, and personally.
Parental Influence and the Culture of Overachievement
Many millennials were raised by baby boomer and Gen X parents who emphasized achievement as a core value. From a young age, they were told they were special, capable of anything, and expected to excel academically, professionally, and personally.
This upbringing often included elements of helicopter parenting—an overly involved, high-expectation style of parenting that can fuel perfectionism. Millennials were frequently shielded from failure, awarded participation trophies, and encouraged to constantly strive for greatness. While this approach may have fostered confidence in some, it also created a deep fear of failure and an inability to cope with setbacks.
Perfectionism and Mental Health
The cost of perfectionism isn’t just stress—it’s a full-blown mental health crisis. Research has found strong links between perfectionist tendencies and various mental health conditions, including:
- Anxiety – The fear of making mistakes can trigger chronic stress and excessive worry.
- Depression – When unrealistic standards aren’t met, feelings of failure and inadequacy can spiral.
- Burnout – The endless chase for workplace perfection leads to emotional exhaustion.
- Eating disorders – The obsession with body image, exacerbated by social media, has contributed to disordered eating patterns.
The demand to be perfect is impossible to sustain. Still, many millennials find it hard to break free from these expectations. The ongoing stigma around mental health only makes it more difficult for those struggling to ask for help.
Millennial perfectionism is a symptom of a fast-changing world—where social media, economic instability, and cultural pressure collide to create an atmosphere of constant striving.
The Path to a Healthier Mindset: 5 Tips to Mitigate the Effects of Perfectionism
- Embrace Imperfection – Mistakes and setbacks are part of growth. Accepting them helps reduce anxiety and builds resilience.
- Limit Social Media Use – Stepping back from curated feeds can reduce feelings of inadequacy.
- Set Realistic Goals – Replace unreachable standards with progress-focused intentions.
- Prioritize Mental Health – Therapy, mindfulness practices, and self-care help reduce stress.
- Redefine Success – Break free from rigid definitions and explore your own version of fulfillment.
Millennial perfectionism is a symptom of a fast-changing world—where social media, economic instability, and cultural pressure collide to create an atmosphere of constant striving. While ambition and high standards can be positive, the endless pursuit of perfection is damaging to mental health and overall well-being.
Understanding the roots of perfectionism—and intentionally choosing self-compassion, balance, and flexibility—is essential. As millennials continue to shape the future, learning to let go of perfection and redefine success may be the key to a healthier, more meaningful life.
