Helga Margrét Rúnarsdóttir and Sonja Björg Írisar Jóhannsdóttir, master’s students in clinical psychology and interns at the RU Psychology Services, will give a lecture on the hidden side of perfectionism in academic life on Thursday, October 9. The event is part of RU´s Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place from October 6 to 10.

The goal of the week is to promote well-being and raise awareness about mental health among students and staff through events and educational activities.

In their talk, Helga Margrét and Sonja will discuss how perfectionism can affect daily life and mental health — and how to let go of overly rigid self-demands. They emphasise that perfectionism does not necessarily lead to better performance; instead, it can result in procrastination, anxiety, and even burnout when individuals sacrifice their well-being in pursuit of excellence.

“It’s natural to want to do well,” they explain, “but when self-worth depends entirely on performance, ambition turns into a burden.” They will highlight ways to accept mistakes, build self-compassion, and find a healthier balance between achievement and well-being.

The lecture will take place on Thursday, October 9, at 12:15 in room M106, and everyone is welcome.

See the full schedule for RU´s Mental Health Awareness Week