Today I want to talk about perfectionism. A term which is used for the habit of being perfect in every action, it’s not that you always give your best, but a sense of feeling where you never feel satisfied with the quality of output. There is always an ache to do better, one more tweak, just one final touch, but alas, the final never comes. Where you know it’s hurting, but still you keep doing like it has become a compulsion, an obsession.  

I am a living example of this obsession, and I am still struggling to overcome it. I know I must not fall for it, but the pull is so mesmerising, so strong, it’s hard to remain conscious. What happens most of the time is that, frustrated with not achieving in reality what’s in your mind, you finally give up on the idea, which means wasting all that you had built and the time you had given to it, simply for the reason it didn’t look like you dreamt of. 

Breaking Free: Practical Strategies to Overcome Perfectionism

So how do you break free from perfectionism’s chokehold? It starts with shifting your mindset and building new habits:

1. Set ‘Good Enough’ Standards: Before starting a project, define what ‘good enough’ looks like. Not perfect—just good enough to ship, share, or move forward. This gives you a clear finish line instead of an endless perfectionist maze.
2. Embrace the 80/20 Rule: 80% of results come from 20% of effort. Focus on the vital 20% that drives impact, and let go of obsessing over the remaining 80% that yields diminishing returns.
3. Set Time Limits: Give yourself strict deadlines. When time’s up, you’re done—no exceptions. This forces you to prioritise what truly matters instead of endlessly tweaking minor details.
4. Celebrate Imperfect Action: Reward yourself for shipping imperfect work. Finished is better than perfect. Every time you hit ‘publish,’ ‘send,’ or ‘submit’ something imperfect, you’re training yourself to value progress over perfection.
5. Reframe Failure as Feedback: Perfectionism fears mistakes. Growth embraces them. Every ‘failure’ is data that helps you improve. The faster you fail, the faster you learn.

Conclusion: Choose Progress Over Perfection

Perfectionism promises excellence but delivers stagnation. It convinces you that you’re pursuing quality when you’re actually avoiding risk, judgment, and growth. The truth is, no one ever created anything remarkable by waiting for perfect conditions or perfect execution. They created it by starting messy, learning fast, and iterating relentlessly.

So ask yourself: What would you create if you permitted yourself… to be imperfect? What would you accomplish if you valued done over perfect? The world doesn’t need your perfect work—it needs your real work. And that starts the moment you let go of perfectionism and embrace the beautiful, messy, productive process of creating anyway.