Grace Jones is a former freelance IT Consultant who is very familiar with the stress of working in demanding environments. Ten years ago she chose to study hypnotherapy to better understand how our thoughts influence our behaviour, habits and results.
From the moment we start school, we are taught to aim for perfection! Success for many means acing those exams and excelling in activities from sport to music. It seems that more and more, the world demands perfection. But perfectionism and the struggle to attain it comes at a high price.
A few years ago I was introduced to a new concept, that "Done is better than Perfect"!
Hallelujah, an approach that champions completion over perfection. It emphasizes the importance of progress and action over impossible-to-hit standards.
While perfectionism can be perceived as a positive trait, something that can be self-motivating and drive you to overcome difficulties and achieve success, it can actually be a double-edged sword. The unhealthy side can be a fast track to unhappiness for so many.
Research has shown that perfectionists tend to experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression compared to those who are more accepting of imperfection, and it may even hinder your ability to achieve your goals effectively.
Are you a perfectionist?
There’s no test for this, but here are some questions that might indicate you have perfectionist traits. By the way, I only found out that I was a perfectionist during a coaching session because, as far as I was concerned, I was trying to “do my best.”
Here goes:
Do you set extremely high standards for yourself or others?
Do you feel disappointed or upset when things don't go exactly as planned?
Do you often feel that your work is never good enough, even when others are satisfied?
Do you spend excessive amounts of time on tasks to make them "perfect," often beyond what is necessary?
Do you frequently compare yourself to others and feel inferior if you don't measure up?
Are you uncomfortable delegating tasks to others because you worry that they won't do it "right"?
Do you find it hard to adapt to changes or unexpected situations, and end up feeling stressed or anxious?
If you answered several of these questions with a “yes”, then embracing the mantra that “Done is better than Perfect” may help you increase your productivity and reduce your stress!
Because one of the primary dangers of perfectionism is its paralyzing effect on productivity.
As I obsessed over getting every detail just right, I would get stuck in a cycle of overthinking and indecision. Projects dragged on as I tweaked and refined, never quite satisfied with the outcome. Meanwhile, deadlines loomed, my stress mounted, and I felt helpless as I battled against the increasing demands of my self-imposed expectations.
How did I escape? I retrained myself to accept that sometimes “good” was good enough, that done was indeed better than perfect.
Embracing "good enough" and its benefits
Perfection is an illusion, and progress is more important than flawlessness.
My breakthrough came when I learned about Taking Imperfect Action.
After all, some of the most groundbreaking discoveries and works of art emerged from moments of imperfection and experimentation, learning from mistakes, and continuously improving along the way.
If you find yourself battling perfectionism.
5 tips to embrace imperfection and "good enough"
Set realistic goals
If your goals are unattainable, it’s easy to get discouraged. Start setting realistic goals for yourself on a manageable timeline. Break each larger goal down into smaller tasks so you don’t feel overwhelmed along the way. And make sure to review your goals along the way to see if the timelines really are manageable for you.
Embrace the process
Rather than fixating on the end result, learn to enjoy the process. Change doesn’t happen overnight, so start with small steps. Remember to let go of the desire to be perfect and focus on progress, however untidy it may look.
Practice mindfulness
Perfectionism’s best friend is rumination. It loves to go over and over past mistakes and delights in worrying about the future. Staying grounded in the present moment, through mindfulness or meditation, can help you to let go of some of those fixations. Mindful ways to nurture your well-being.
Accept mistakes as learning opportunities
Understand that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve. When Thomas Edison was asked by a journalist how it felt to fail 1000 times in his attempt to invent the incandescent lightbulb, he said, “I didn't fail 1000 times. The lightbulb was an invention with 1000 steps.”
Seek feedback
Rather than avoiding feedback out of fear, seek it out. Constructive criticism can help you grow and improve, even if it’s not always easy to hear.
So, embrace imperfection, prioritize action over perfection, and open yourself up to greater fulfilment and success.
Don’t let perfectionism stifle your creativity, progress and happiness. In the words of Elsa from Disney’s movie “Frozen,”
Let It Go!
Grace Jones, Resilience Expert, Speaker & Coach
Grace Jones is a former freelance IT Consultant who is very familiar with the stress of working in demanding environments. Ten years ago she chose to study hypnotherapy to better understand how our thoughts influence our behaviour, habits and results. She went on to create the RISE Resilience system, designed to help people understand and effectively manage the increasing levels of stress, anxiety and burnout that so many are struggling with in this post-COVID world. Today she is an enthusiastic speaker, trainer and breathing coach ‒ "Training your brain to work for you..."
