Whenever we try to achieve a goal or complete an important task, we always strive for perfection. We want everything to be just perfect because, why not? There’s nothing wrong with producing flawless results. In fact, for some of us, perfectionism is the goal. Some are even proud to call themselves perfectionists. However, are you really a perfectionist or a high achiever? There is a big difference.

Being called a perfectionist is considered a compliment for most people. The reality is, there is no such thing as perfect. There is always that something that needs to be improved. Here lies the difference between a perfectionist and a high achiever. High achievers strive for excellence and whatever the outcome is, which is most likely positive, they are happy with the results. If there are mistakes, they learn from them and move on. Perfectionists, on the other hand, beat themselves up over anything that is less than perfect. They deprive themselves of the satisfaction and pride of doing a job well done. Living this way can and will take a toll on your mental and eventually your physical health. Which in turn can negatively affect you from succeeding in whatever your goals are. Don’t disadvantage yourself. Leave perfectionism out the door.

Be Aware Of Your Perfectionist Tendencies

Become more aware of your perfectionist tendencies. One great way of doing this is to keep a journal to jot down your thoughts. Do this at the end of the day and write down moments that occurred during the day that made you feel like you failed or didn’t do well enough. Write down what you thought during those moments. Doing this will help you identify common thoughts and scenarios that trigger your perfectionist tendencies. This will also allow you to realise that you did a better job than you thought and there was really nothing to stress over.

It’s Okay To Say No

Perfectionists have the tendency to take on every opportunity that comes their way. You can only take on so much before burning out. Take every opportunity that you CAN and not every opportunity that comes your way. If there is too much on your plate, just say no. Leave some energy for yourself so you can do the things that truly make you happy.

Taking A Time Off Is Not A Waste Of Time

When you’re a perfectionist, it’s easy to look at a vacation or a single day off as a waste of time. Far from it. In fact, taking a break once in a while is recommended if you ever want to succeed. You need to recharge yourself, refresh your motivation and dump stress. Running on empty is not ideal when pursuing your goals.