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Breaking Free from Perfectionism: Five Steps to Getting Things Done
Perfectionism can be a sneaky obstacle that keeps us from reaching our potential
The Hidden Toll of Perfectionism
How often do you find yourself stuck on a project, unable to finish it because it’s just not “perfect” yet? If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone. Perfectionism is a struggle many of us battle, and in this episode I talk about my lifelong battle with this hurdle, and how I began to overcome it.
Understanding Perfectionism
Before we can overcome perfectionism, we need to recognize what it really is. It’s not just a desire for things to be flawless, but often an excuse we use to avoid finishing things and avoiding judgment. If nothing is ever finished, nothing ever has to be measured, critiqued, or put out there for the world to see. It’s your comfort zone dressed up as diligence.
Perfectionism also manifests as unnecessarily high standards we set for ourselves, pouring hours into details that may not even matter in the long run. We get bogged down trying to make one project perfect, rather than making consistent progress and completing all the things we’d like to accomplish.
5 Steps To Overcoming Perfectionism
Step 1: Recognize Perfectionism as an Excuse
The first major step in breaking this cycle is awareness. Notice when they’re using perfectionism as a shield from judgment. We can start to overcome perfectionism when we accept that hiding unfinished work is often easier than exposing ourselves to possible critique by finishing something.
Step 2: Loosen Self-Judgment (And Others, Too)
Loosening the grip of self-criticism is vital, but how do we stop being such a hard self-critic? Stop critiquing others. When we judge others harshly, we’re likely to apply the same impossible standards to ourselves. By practicing kindness and nonjudgement toward other people’s work, we also make it easier to accept our own imperfections.
Lower expectations, approach your projects with openness, and stop picking apart every flaw before you even have something complete to share.
Step 3: Set Deadlines and Break Down Projects
Time management is perfectionist’s antidote. Without a finish line, perfectionism will keep us endlessly reworking our projects. For me setting firm deadlines for my music has helped me create and share more music than ever. This year alone I have released a new single for each month, and a plan to finish out the year, giving me 12 completed songs for the year of 2025.
By having strict deadlines you also force yourself to break down your task and start making mini deadlines to ensure the big project gets done on time. Breaking projects into smaller steps can make large goals feel more doable and keep your momentum going.
Step 4: Rely on a Trusted Friend
Sometimes we’re just too close to our own work to judge it objectively. Sharing unfinished work with a trusted friend can provide honest feedback, encouragement, and a reality check. Choose someone whose opinion and taste aligns with your work for the most helpful support. See what they say, it may give you confidence to call your project done and share it with the world.
Step 5: Just Do It—Finish the Work
Ultimately, action is the cure for perfectionism. I encourage you to finish something, even if it isn’t perfect. Completing projects creates opportunities for learning, reflection, and growth. Each finished piece becomes a stepping stone to improvement, rather than a source of regret. Getting more things done will inspire more confidence for the next time. And before you know it, you will have enough reps under your belt to really start getting proud of what you finish…even as an ex-perfectionist. I can say this has been true for me.
Embrace Imperfection, Embrace Growth
You can’t achieve perfection. It’s always just out of reach. But the qualities behind perfectionism, having care in your work, dedication, a desire for quality, are all strengths when harnessed properly. The key is to finish what you start, reflect, and use what you learn for the next thing. Just get it done, as messy as it needs to be. That’s what’s going to help you get better and move forward.
So if you’re ready to overcome perfectionism, start with awareness, practice self-compassion, set deadlines, seek supportive feedback, and above all, just do it. Because progress, not perfection, is what truly matters.