Are you the kind of person that cannot leave things be until they are in the best possible condition? If this is so, then you may be a perfectionist. There are a number of positive and negative things associated with this particular personality type. Lets take a few moments to discuss perfectionism and ways that you can cope.
What Is Perfectionism?
Perfectionism is a personality trait where a person strives to be flawless in the execution of whatever they are doing. From big projects to the smallest of tasks, perfectionists can create truly amazing things. The downside however is that perfectionism exists at a cost to the rest of your life. For many dealing with perfectionism, or attempting to cope with a loved one who is a perfectionist, the entire process can be challenging.
Understand Time and Place
Practically speaking, it does not always pay to be perfect. If you are coping with perfectionism, then you will understand what happens when you want to do something perfectly and you are up against a deadline. Either working well past normal hours or handing things in late will create friction for your personal life and work life. With this in mind, remember that life is about keeping things in balance. A perfect life means not being a perfectionist with everything. Some things will demand our time while others require only a passing amount of attention. Working on this balance will help you cope with your perfectionism.
Get to the Root of the Problem
Why does everything need to be perfect? Why can’t things be left good and not great? More often then not, coping with perfectionism means coming to terms with the reason why we as individuals are driven to make what we do perfect. Whether this is because we are afraid that every little action we do will speak badly of us, or that perfectionism is just how we have grown up, analyzing yourself and the origin of this behavior can give you the tools you need to cope with it.
Practice
If nothing else, practice makes perfect. Perfectionism can be a learned behavior that can be undone through practice. Keep leaving things not perfect. Make sure you spend time every day being less then perfect in what you do, and track the amount of time you save as a result. Just like exposure therapy, the more you practice not being perfect, the easier it will become to deal with perfectionism.