Here’s Why You Should Stop Trying to Be Perfect

Stop obsessing over the details. People will forget. Do your best and trust.

That email was too long…

Let me change the font size, maybe that will be better. Or maybe change the font type from Arial to Verdana, it will look better.

This email has to be perfect!

Oops! I didn’t sound smart at that event.

Do these thoughts pop into your head?

No worries, you are not alone.

In my experience, these are just thoughts of perfectionism and trying to do someone’s best. However, through the years, I have learned things when striving for perfection as a student and as a professional.

Thus, I want to share things that have helped me when striving for perfection, and I hope they help you too.

Stop Obsessing Over The Details

Details are essential in various situations. For instance, when working on a project, making sure that the audio works for a presentation will help you deliver a higher quality presentation.

However, focusing on what type of font to use when sending an email to your mother asking what’s for dinner.

Do you think she is going to notice the difference?

Is it worth it to stress about that?

I know this example may sound extreme, but you get the point.

What I have noticed when stressing about details is that they make me less productive because you start focusing on the little things and investing time in them.

On the other hand, you can invest that time in other things that can help you deliver a higher quality result.

So, what has helped me, in this case, is to be mindful and ask myself:

Does this make the most positive impact?

If yes, I would keep focusing my energy on that. If no, then I would re-focus my energy on what adds value to what I am working on.

People Will Go On With Their Life And Forget

When you start stressing about being perfect in social situations, at the end of the day, people will forget about what you said or what you were wearing and get on with their day.

People have lives, things to do, and commitments to fulfill. Hence, they have to keep going and doing other things, not focusing on you.

Then, why stress about it? Thinking about that will take away from your peace and make you less productive at the end of the day.

So, is it worth it?

Another lesson regarding other people is that it’s not all about you. We tend to be in our heads about things and make them more important than they are. The world doesn’t revolve around you. In my experience, this can lead to overthinking.

A technique I learned from Julia Kristina’s video when it comes to overthinking is to ask yourself:

Is this going to matter a few days from now? Even A few weeks or years?

If the answer is no, then stop stressing about it.

Find ways to invest your time productively instead of worrying about things and trying to make them perfect.

Do Your Best And Trust

I know this might be tough for those who are high-achievers and want to do the best they can at all costs.

These are good qualities because if you do your best, you give the best service you can to others. Thus, other people receiving your high-quality service will benefit from it.

However, doing your best can turn a little obsessive, and may cause you to stress you don’t need in your life.

What I have learned through the years is that excessively trying to do your best is coming from a place to control the outcomes of certain events.

So, what I have done is to do my best and trust. Also, I accepted that at the end of the day, I can’t control the outcome of anything.

I can’t control what people feel, think, and act. Thus, the best thing is to chill and trust that I put all the effort I could with the resources I had.

Final Thoughts

Doing your best is excellent because others can benefit from the excellent quality of your work. However, there’s a limit to it. You don’t have to strive to be perfect.

People will often forget about what you did, said, and looked. Hence, getting on with their life. Do your best and trust.

Thus, stop trying to be perfect; nobody cares.

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Disclaimer: I am not a mental health or counseling professional. These tips and advice are based on my experience and opinion as a student, tutor, teacher, and software developer. Everyone is different, so, the advice shared in this article may or may not work for you.