Can You Overcome Perfectionism?

Have you strived to be perfect for as long as you can remember? During school, maybe you dedicated time each night to completing your homework, getting ahead on school projects, and studying for any pop quizzes or tests. When you knew a big exam or test was coming, maybe you studied long and hard each night so that you knew all the answers to every single question that may be asked.

Did that same work ethic continue with you as you grew older? In your career, maybe you aim to answer every single email on the same day as you receive it. The bar you set for yourself might mean that you're also working late at night and on weekends.

Perhaps you don't want to settle. You want to be the best you can be, every step of the way, in every area of your life. Your classmates, co-workers, friends, and family don't seem struggle as much with it though. You notice that they seem to have a better work-life balance — something that you've always strived for, but has seemed out of reach.

Can you even overcome perfectionism? Let's find out!

Becoming More Aware of Your Perfectionistic Tendencies

Overcoming perfectionism isn't easy, but it is possible. One of the best places to start is to become more aware of your perfectionistic tendencies, thought patterns, and behaviors. By taking the time to learn, acknowledge, and recognize these actions, you'll be in a better place to begin changing them.

Keep track of some of those negative thoughts that you're having. Write them down in a journal. A journal can be a great tool for you to use at the moment as well as being able to look back on later to see how you were feeling and start to initiate a change.

Be Kind to Yourself

Being a perfectionist can mean that you're extremely critical and demanding of yourself. This can mean a lot of negative thoughts and self-doubt. Try being kinder to yourself. Being more positive about your work and your own self can go a long way.

This small change can help you start to actually respect yourself again and appreciate the work that you're putting out into the world. If you're having difficulty starting out with this, try repeating a mantra like "I am strong, " "I accept myself," or "I am enough."

Set SMART Goals

Goals are a great way to hold yourself accountable and go after the things you want in life. Perfectionists can often set unrealistic and unachievable goals for themselves. This approach can leave someone feeling hopeless or unsatisfied with their life.

When setting personal or professional goals, try to focus on setting SMART goals. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Goals should be realistic, challenging, and healthy.

Progress Over Perfection

If you were perfect in everything that you did, there would be no opportunity for you to better yourself or grow as an individual. Making mistakes is what helps you grow and learn. If you make every activity about being perfect, you're taking the fun away from it. Wanting to get better at something is perfectly normal, but the goal should never be about being perfect.

There's no such thing as perfection. Strive for progress, not perfection.

Next Steps

Perfectionism is something that can be overcome with the right amount of time, dedication, and treatment approach. If you struggle with perfectionism, you're not alone. There are ways that you can work towards overcoming perfectionism on your own, but working with a therapist can be a great way to help you make the switch.

If you're interested in seeking additional help for your perfectionistic tendencies, reach out today to set up a consultation for therapy for perfectionism and workaholism