- 2896 - PERFECTIONISM is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can motivate you to perform at a high level and deliver top-quality work. On the other hand, it can cause you unnecessary anxiety and slow you down.
--------------------------- 2896 - PERFECTIONISM is a double-edged sword
- How can you harness the positives of your perfectionism while mitigating the negatives? What measures or practices can you use to keep your perfectionism in check?
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- Many perfectionists worry that if they let go of their meticulousness and conscientiousness, it will hurt their performance and standing. And so they cling to their perfectionism even when it’s counterproductive.
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- Reining in your perfectionistic propensities is about rechanneling a strength of yours rather than aiming for a lower goal. If you genuinely want to be a high achiever, you’re bound to do some things imperfectly.
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- Here are some ideas of how to let go of your penchant for perfectionism:
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- See the big picture. Being perfect isn’t easy. Diligence takes a lot of effort, and your attention to detail is incredibly time-consuming. You must also recognize the opportunity cost and time of your behavior.
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- Ask yourself: Am I using my time wisely? Am I being productive? Focusing on maximizing the impact of your work. Shift your mindset. You’re going to be “less perfect about some things, so you can concentrate on what’s important.
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- If you’re continuing to tinker on an assignment that most others would consider complete, try to “recognize that just getting it done” is a decent goal. “There’s a point of diminishing returns” when it comes to sweating the small stuff and nitpicking niggling details.
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- Adjust your standards. Managing your perfectionism also requires you to “calibrate your standards” Create a checklist for each task. You’re following a process with discrete and measurable goals. Once you’ve ticked off the items on your list, you’re done.
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- Break the cycle of rumination, repetitively mulling over a thought or problem without ever coming to a resolution. It’s unhealthy, and it’s unproductive. “Don’t confuse ruminating with problem-solving.
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- Identify your triggers. The first step in conquering this habit is to learn to recognize when you’re ruminating. Don’t trust your first reaction. If you’re dwelling on a past event you might not have an accurate read of the situation. When you ruminate, “you tend to focus on all the bad things.
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- Seek a diversion. Get perspective. Be honest and open. Monitor your progress.
As you’re working on moderating your perfectionist tendencies, learn where perfectionism has a positive impact and where it does not.
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- Principles to Remember. Learn to recognize the point of diminishing returns when you’re aiming to complete a task perfectly. Sometimes just getting it done is a worthy goal.
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- Don’t mistake ruminating for problem solving. When your mind is twisting and turning, seek out distractions to break the cycle.
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- Toil in pursuit of an amorphous goal of perfection. Create a checklist that ensures you follow a process with measurable targets.
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- Perfectionism leads to avoiding certain tasks. It was a roadblock. The first step is getting a draft on paper. The first draft is usually terrible. But then they go back and edit and rework it.
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- Seek support and perspective and focus on the big picture. Seaching out to a friend or colleague and “talking through ideas” helps. Remind yourself that you are not dealing with life-or-death situations.
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- It is called self-help for a reason.
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- November 8, 2020 2896
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--------------------- --- Sunday, November 15, 2020 ---------------------------
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