4 Useful Tips to Overcome Perfectionism
Perfectionism is so much more than simply trying to do your best or having high expectations of yourself and/or others. Rather, those expectations are often unrealistic and can impact your self-esteem and your mental well-being.
Being a perfectionist can also lead to burnout, anxiety, and other mental and physical health conditions that might negatively impact your overall quality of life.
Some people tend to be more susceptible to perfectionism than others. It can even stem from childhood situations and experiences. But, no matter your age or circumstances, it can be overcome.
If you’re tired of the weight that often comes from being a perfectionist, let’s take a look at a few tips you can use to fight back against those unrealistic expectations.
1. Set Achievable Goals
One of the biggest issues perfectionists tend to face is setting unrealistic goals for themselves. When you bog yourself down with too many tasks and fail to complete them as quickly or effectively as you want, it will negatively impact your self-esteem and confidence.
Unfortunately, that can create a vicious cycle. The harder it is for you to meet your goals, the worse your confidence will become, and you’re likely to be even harder on yourself and set loftier goals and expectations.
2. Break Down Tasks
Perfectionists tend to think they need to see the finished product or result of something for it to be considered successful. Instead of focusing on the end result, break down your tasks into smaller, manageable pieces.
Not only will you feel a sense of accomplishment each time you complete one of those pieces, but you’re also less likely to avoid overworking and burning yourself out.
3. Celebrate Your Mistakes
Take a look at some of the most successful, influential people in the world. Chances are, if you do any research on those individuals, you will find that they made plenty of mistakes along the way.
It’s hard to find true success as a perfectionist because you don’t give yourself room to grow. When you make mistakes, you learn more, and you tend to build your resolve. That can lead to fresh, new ideas and more innovative ways of thinking.
So, celebrate your mistakes instead of letting them put you down. They could be the very things that cause you to reach real success in the future.
4. Practice Self-Care
Part of fighting back against perfectionism is taking care of yourself, in general. You might be tempted to place conditions on how well you treat yourself based on performance or how much you’re able to get done in a day.
Everyone deserves self-care. It’s not just a “luxury.” It’s a necessity. Finding ways to implement it into your daily routine can make a big difference in how you feel about yourself, and it can help to control your stress levels while fighting back against burnout. Your self-care practices should include things like prioritizing sleep, eating a healthy diet, and staying physically active.
If you feel like your perfectionism is having a negative impact on your mental health, you can also care for yourself by talking to a mental health professional.
A therapist can help you get to the bottom of what might be causing your perfectionism. Whether you have a fear of failure, a need to please your parents, or feelings of insecurity, recognizing where your perfectionism starts is the first step toward effectively treating it.
While these tips can make perfectionist thoughts easier to deal with each day, remember that you don’t have to overcome them on your own. Feel free to contact me to set up an appointment soon.
