We are gradually approaching the end of 2023, and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and personal assessments. I’ve been asking myself some deep questions, too.
One of the things I struggled with this year is ‘PERFECTIONISM’.
There were so many things I wanted to do but didn’t do because I was waiting for the right time and, in most cases, striving for perfection.
If you are in the same WhatsApp group with me, then keep reading 😀.
What is Perfectionism?
Perfectionism is a personality trait where a person strives for flawlessness. You find perfectionists setting exceptionally high standards for themselves and those around them.
At this point, I’m sure you’re asking yourself if you’re one😀.
Perfectionism isn’t all that bad; it has incredible benefits. It can be a great motivator in helping us develop our skills even more.
Let’s take a look at some great benefits of being a perfectionist…
Perfectionists:
1. Have excellent attention to details
2. Are great at catching errors
3. Are great at taking up challenges
4. Have excellent organisational skills
Sometimes, I teach my younger sisters some of these skills consciously or unconsciously 😂).
While living with my parents a few years back, I’d always teach my younger sisters to organise the house just as I did. Back then, it felt like a big task to them, and they would always complain that my standards were too high😀.
Imagine?
A few weeks ago, I was on a call with one of my sisters, and she sounded very excited, telling me how she now cleans and organises the house like me😀. I was excited, too😂.
During my MSc at the University of Liverpool, one of my flatmates complained that my standards were too high because I’d always draft a rota for cleaning and organising the kitchen and the corridor.
One thing I’ve been unable to understand is how people can be comfortable in a dirty environment.
If you have a perfectionist as a colleague, you benefit from their organised and neat workspaces.
Despite the fantastic benefits of perfectionism, it has its downsides, too, which I’m committed to working on in 2024, and you should, too.
Perfectionists are:
1. Socially awkward and highly introverted
2. Slow at getting the job done (this happens when we keep over checking our work)
3. Incompatibility with others (because we are so detail-oriented, some people find it challenging to work with us)
4. Procrastination (this is a significant struggle for us)
5. Fear of failure, etc.
No. 5 hits hard because I’ve always been scared of failure. So, if you are in the same WhatsApp group as me, we need to be more kind and patient with ourselves in 2024.
Here are a few tips on how to deal with Perfectionism in 2024
1. Allow yourself to make mistakes (it’s okay)
2. Focus on meaning over perfection
3. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself
4. Set reasonable goals
5. Learn how to receive criticism
6. Be true to yourself (don’t allow social media to distort your reality)
Above all, let’s keep taking one step at a time.
I hope this helps you!