4 Strategies for Overcoming Perfectionism

Perfectionists strive to be the best at everything they do.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as many perfectionists excel in their fields. When a minor setback feels like a major personal failure, that’s when perfectionism becomes a burden. That’s when you know you need to conquer it. 

Perfectionists tend to hyper-focus on even the tiniest flaws. If you focus on the things you’re unable to do perfectly, you may end up doing nothing at all. You’ll procrastinate so much that the final product will be sub-par.

Let us acknowledge that perfection is unattainable. Instead, let us aspire to greatness.

Implement these strategies and overcome your obsession with being perfect.

1. Break it down. Instead of envisioning your project as a perfect whole, why not try to view it as a series of well-designed, interlocking pieces. Stop worrying about the outcome. Instead, focus on one task after another.
2. Give others a break. If you find yourself constantly imposing your perfectionism on others, stop and ask why. The more slack you give others, the easier you can be on yourself. Everyone has unique skills and talents. 
3. Think in gradations. Grey is not black, and one point below 100% is not zero. At the end of the day, only you know how much work you put into a project. Be your own authority, and congratulate yourself on your effort.
4. Embrace your sense of humor. Nothing defuses perfectionism like a healthy sense of humor. Cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself and start to see beyond a single viewpoint.

Life isn’t perfect and neither are you.

Permit yourself to let go of your perfectionist ways, and take action today by using these tips to create measurable changes in your life. You’ll be so happy that you did!