Getting Over Perfectionism: 4 Outside-the-Box Techniques
Perfectionism will hold you back. Do more by letting go.
I used to be a perfectionist.
I was the person who put in long hours at work, trying to do and be everything. I’d write and rewrite emails, poring over every word. And I’d obsess over every detail of a project, going far beyond client expectations and outshining my colleagues at every turn.
I’m not that way anymore. Perfectionism got in the way of doing things I enjoy — because I was spending so much time on work that, frankly, didn’t matter in the end.
Perfectionism can interfere with any career. Consider the consequences: any improvement in your work is based on feedback. Feedback comes from getting your work out into the wild. And in today’s world, if that feedback loop takes too long, other people will pass you by.
The internet is eager to offer advice for overcoming perfectionism (“just change your mindset!”). I believe that practical tips are better and here are a few to help you move away from perfectionism in small doses.
1) Embrace the sh*tty first draft
I’m a writer and I’ll never forget the words a wise editor once said to me: “It’s a blog post. Not the next Nobel prize winner.”
Lots of people obsess over their work. They’re so concerned with getting it right the first time that the work takes forever.
In her book Bird by Bird, writer Anne Lamott talks about the “sh*tty first draft.”
Nothing overcomes perfectionism quite like a sh*tty first draft. You bang out the first version of your draft or project or email as quickly as possible. The first version will always be a mess. Then you go back and edit.
Why does this help with perfectionism? You release the expectation that the first version will be good. It won’t be good. But revising the first version is much easier than getting the first version perfect the first time.
A sh*tty first draft can also help with your hobbies, passions, and life outside of work. Don’t focus on the “perfect” time for running — just run. Don’t focus on “perfect” parenting — just parent. There are always ways to improve over time.
2) Put a time limit on your work
It’s easy to expand your work to fit into the time allowed. If you have until 5:00 pm on Friday, you keep working on it until 5:00 pm on Friday. Especially if you’re aiming for perfection instead of a sh*tty first draft.
While you can’t control deadlines that other people give you, you can control how much time you spend on a project.
I am a big fan of time-blocking. I create blocks of timewho to work on something (like this blog post). I also set a timer and only allow myself 90 minutes for a first draft. The goal is to get my ideas out as quickly as possible. Edits come later.
At a minimum, a time limit gives me perspective. I rarely cut myself off when the timer goes off, but it’s a reminder that I might be taking too long on the first version.
3) Let “schedule send” be your friend
A few weeks ago, I talked to a colleague who said she could not get over her fear of posting on LinkedIn. She would type up entire posts and then never hit “Publish” — because she never felt that the posts were perfect. It’s hard to get over the idea that we have to give all our energy to work or a task, which can become a barrier.
A really easy way to overcome this hesitation is by scheduling your content. Type it up, schedule it for the future, and walk away. When the content is published, you’ll be walking your dog or working on something else… and not thinking at all about what other people think of the content.
This technique also works well with emails, especially if you’re the kind of person who overworks your replies. Type your response, and “Schedule Send” for an hour later. Out of sight, out of mind.
Anna Burgess Yang
4) Keep a praise file for when doubt creeps in
Criticism is hard, and it can be especially hard for perfectionists. You get feedback and immediately beat yourself up.
A “praise file” is a collection of compliments you’ve received. Save copies of emails, comments, reviews, or any other kudos. Easy enough to add these to a folder on your computer or GDrive. I use a private Instagram account and upload screenshots.
Praise and motivation can also come via a community. When I was a new writer, I joined a group of other writers in a Slack channel. The group provides unwavering support for its members and celebrates each other’s wins.
Focus on improvement rather than perfection
If you’re like me and you’ve been a perfectionist for most of your life, it’s hard to let go. In her book “The Gifts of Imperfection” Brené Brown wrote:
Healthy striving is self-focused: “How can I improve?”
Perfectionism is other-focused: “What will they think?”
You might not be able to fully give up your perfectionist tendencies right away. And that’s okay. Instead of trying to “fix” perfectionism in one fell swoop, set a goal to use one of these small techniques. Your productivity will thank you.
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