Overcoming perfectionism won’t happen overnight. It takes practice to overcome a lifetime of internalized beliefs and habits. However, the more strategies you can learn, the better the chances you have of finding what can help you to manage perfectionism and procrastination. Getting a handle on this vicious cycle is the first step to breaking it. Follow these three tips for overcoming your perfectionist tendencies.
Remember People Will Still Like You
First of all, it’s important to remember that people probably aren’t judging you as harshly as you think they are. In fact, you’re probably your own worst critic. You can hand in your best work and still find it passes muster. You may even be surprised to discover your efforts are praised. Regardless, you are more than your work. People will like and admire you for the person you are and the many wonderful traits you possess. In fact, they may even like you more when they see you’re not perfect.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
It’s true. People appreciate others who are real, vulnerable, and flawed. It gets tiresome seeing the perfect lives on TV and in social media. Very few of us can live up to those standards. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to compare ourselves to what’s going on in the lives of others, especially those who seem incredibly perfect. People tend to show their highlight reel on social media. They put only the best and the most appealing information out there for everyone to see. Comparing yourself to anyone other than yourself is a sure way to spark your perfectionist tendencies. Feel free to stop following anyone who seems too perfect.
Strive for Good Enough
Embracing good enough is probably the best thing you can do to beat perfectionism. You can accomplish this when you change your mindset and re-evaluate the messages you’ve been giving yourself. Instead of thinking things must be perfect or that you need to be the best, try to focus on completing work that is professional and that meets high standards. If you must strive to make it better, shoot only for improving upon your past work and then be done with it. Remember, done is better than perfect. Avoid setting the bar unrealistically high.
These three tips encompass a number of areas when it comes to perfectionism. The trap of trying to be perfect can hold you back in all areas of your life. Follow these tips to break free of the cycle and start living on your terms.
