5 Ways To Stop Being A Perfectionist And Start Enjoying Life

Done Is Better Than Perfect

Imagine you have just finished preparing a document or a presentation, and you edit. You check the title, the structure, you look for typos, verify everything, and then you think “I will check this document again tomorrow, I am sure I will find other mistakes”.

The next day you edit again, but still, you feel it is not ready. It could be better.

You wait for some more days before you send it to the other persons involved. Time goes by and you think that after all your document is not so good, and you work on a new one, disappointed with yourself.

Does it sound familiar?

Unfortunately, being a perfectionist is difficult, and it can damage your results at work. When you start your career, it is a positive aspect of your personality: people with high levels of perfectionism are hardworking and well organized.

But gradually, this behavior might negatively affect your performance, causing stress, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. When you work hard to get things perfect, you take longer to produce results, you feel you don’t have enough time, and you force yourself to procrastinate.

I used to be a perfectionist because of my insecurities, and every new task made me doubt my ability. I slowly learned to let go, just because I realized I feel much better when I finish a document or an article, or any other activity in my daily life. It makes me feel more satisfied with myself, and it gives me more free time to enjoy life. I am stronger and ready to get any reaction after sharing the result of my work.

Here are the five points on which I keep working to improve my perfectionist behavior.

1. Define your fears

Identifying the fears behind your perfectionism is a good step toward changing them. For me, it’s a lack of confidence, and fear of some serious consequence I can incur if I make a mistake. It’s fear of failure, yet now I know that failure is just one of the results I could get.

2. Imagine the worst-case scenario

Is your scenario likely to take place? Even then, you might still be able to do something to correct the mistake.

3. Adjust your standards

Perfectionists find it difficult to let go of their high standards, they think their work needs to be perfect. Practice delivering “good enough” instead of “perfect”. Find at least one situation every day when you can practice a new habit, to replace the habit of perfectionism.

4. Watch your self-talk

Be careful when you listen to your inner voice, which encourages your perfectionist habits, and try to replace it with a different message.

5. Set a timer

Do your best work, but give yourself a deadline.

I think that limiting our perfectionistic habits allows us to accept who we are. Once we are at peace with ourselves because we did our best, we are ready to face the consequences and go on with our life.