Oftentimes the most valuable gift is being wasted for perfecting what is already good enough.
At least if you're a perfectionist too, like I am.
Choosing the good enough path will free for you the time for what matters to you the most.
You find the not-as-good-enough attitude tiring and guiding your focus to little details that really don't matter in the bigger picture.
I've learned a lot of good tips from my husband who is the opposite from me in many ways, the perfectionist traits included.
Here's what's been helping me lately a lot.
Think of this power-thought while you give these two tips a try: "Done is better than a perfect plan."
1️⃣ Choose the most simple and fast way and get it done.
I was planting seeds during the Easter holiday. The first round took me lots of time to prep. I set up a planting station outside, I even had my camping style seat warmers and all that, and had my coffee in a Stanley to-go-cup. There I sat listening to my favorite audiobook while slowly planting. It was super cozy and nice. The sun was so warm and I could feel the Spring in the air.
Some of the seeds needed a 24-hour "bath". When it was time to plant them the next day, I had lots of other fun things to do. So I chose the non-perfectionist way. I figured out the fastest and easiest way to do it. I took out the soil and the planting pots and placed them in the kitchen. I scooped the soil with my bare hands, dropped the pea-like seeds in, covered them with soil and poured on the water. Although the perfectionist inside me was screaming a big NOOO, I was so happy. All done in five minutes ✅.
2️⃣ Find out hidden useless standards and trash them while in action.
Our family lives now without a dishwasher. After a few months as a human dishwasher I started noticing what an endless amount it takes time for me to do the dishes. I started questioning the time it actually takes for me to get clean plates out of the murky waters. If I had a few plates and bunch of forks, would it really take thirty minutes to get it done in the real world⁉️
I chose to try the speedy lane my spouse takes when doing the dishes. And at the same time I realized why it had taken me so much time. Somehow in my mind I viewed the dishes as something super dirty, full of dangerous bacteria. I had earlier in my life washed moldy dishes, and perhaps these thoughts were coming from those experiences. Yet these dishes were just used the same day and with a quick and firm brush move they'd be all clean again in a blink of an eye.
After my realization, I started involving my kids too in doing their dishes. I didn't have to hold the ceiling-high standards for plates that we had just used a second ago. When you think of your everyday habits, aren't you excited for what small yet powerful new ways to rid hindering perfectionism you're able to create with some mere questioning on the move.
Share this post with a friend who is also a somewhat perfectionist. We've got this, girl ❤️!
Love,
Pia
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