How to Rid Yourself of Perfectionism
As entrepreneurs, we all have high expectations for ourselves. We are leaders in our industry, and every decision we make has an impact on others. For some, including many of our team members here at Project Millennium, Inc., this need to achieve turns into perfectionism. While an appealing thought, being a perfectionist has long-term harmful side effects. A common trait of high achievers, we urge you to hold yourself accountable for your actions and make your wellness your top priority. Today, we are going to discuss three steps to ridding yourself of perfectionism. Remember, you are no good to others if you aren’t taking care of yourself!
Before we detail each of these steps, we want to share that if you have difficulty with perfectionism and feel like you need additional help with your mental health, please seek professional advice. The tips listed below are ones that helped us but aren’t guaranteed. Although we hope they help you, know that your overall health should be your top priority, and there is no shame in asking for a hand.
Your first step — acknowledging that you have a problem. It can be so easy to fall victim to perfectionism that you may not realize that it has evolved into something harmful at first. If you are highly critical of yourself and others, pushed by fear, consistently set unrealistic goals, are only focused on results, and tend to procrastinate, then you may be teetering on having a perfectionist attitude. While you may feel like you are thriving, you are putting yourself at risk for depression and anxiety.
Second — utilize positive self-talk. The person that you speak and interact with the most is yourself. You can either be your biggest supporter or your number one enemy.
In terms of perfectionism, how you talk to yourself determines your actions, and if your constant narrative is negative, you are going to try and overcompensate.
Instead of adding pressure with thoughts of inadequacy, take time daily to remind yourself of your victories. Your efforts matter; you matter. Make it a habit to remind yourself of this, and eventually, the weight of your perfectionist tendencies will fade away.
Lastly — create new daily habits. Perfectionism is a habit, and to alter your thought process, you have to change things up! Try something new each day to see what works best for you. Instead of insisting that everything be “perfect,” occasionally aim for “good enough.” You are valued because of who you are, not solely for what you bring to the table; this is a complicated reality for entrepreneurs to face because we feel rewarded by success and inadequate when we fail. To rid yourself of these harmful habits, create new ones through experimentation!
Again, we want to remind you that you are enough as long as you are putting in the effort. Being a perfectionist is not a good thing. It’s incredibly harmful and will eventually stand firmly in the way of your success. Tackle this silent beast now! We hope these tips help you maintain a more positive, accommodating headspace, and remember, seek professional help when needed!
All of us at Project Millennium, Inc. are sending you happy, positive thoughts!
