Overcoming perfectionism: embrace “Done is better than perfect”

Perfectionism! A blessing a curse.

If you’re a perfectionist, you know how easy it is to get caught up in making every detail flawless, even when that standard is unattainable. It’s really done me over in the past but I manage it much more these days (thank god!).

I said this exact phrase to a client and it made me look into it more after the call so I’m going to share it with you too. The phrase was…

“Done is better than perfect”

It was coined by Sheryl Sandberg (so I found out after a good google) and it reminds us that completing a task, even with imperfections, is far more valuable than endlessly tweaking and refining it. 

It’s about shifting your focus from an impossible ideal to real progress.

Perfectionism isn’t just a harmless quirk when you’re in a fast paced environment and you need to make decisions.

Striving for perfection can leave you stuck, exhausted, and paralysed by the fear of failure. And, in contrast, finishing tasks, even if they aren’t perfect, brings results, teaches valuable lessons, and ultimately moves you forward - who would have known!

So, if you’re like me, here’s some things to remember

• Progress matters more than perfection - Every completed task, no matter how imperfect, builds momentum and brings you closer to your goals.

• Perfection is an illusion - Expecting perfection sets you up for disappointment and that can harm your mental health.

• You can always refine later - Getting something done gives you a foundation to improve upon instead of stalling indefinitely.

10 reasons why done is better than perfect

1. You get results
   Perfectionism can stall progress. When you’re overly focused on perfecting every detail, you risk never finishing a task. Completing work, even if it’s imperfect, yields tangible results. I’m sure you’ve felt this before?

2. You avoid paralysis
   The fear of not meeting your own high standards can leave you stuck. Embracing “done” means you’re moving forward rather than being paralysed by the fear of failure.

3. You can fix mistakes later
   Finished work is never final. Mistakes can be edited, revised, or learned from. Perfection isn’t necessary at the first pass, improvement comes with action.

4. You become more stable
   Constantly chasing perfection can destabilise your mental and emotional health. Accepting “good enough” helps maintain balance and reduces anxiety.

5. You set realistic expectations
   Perfectionism sets unrealistic standards. By focusing on completion, you establish healthy boundaries and realistic expectations for yourself and those around you.

6. You save more time (this was a big one for me)
   Obsessing over every detail wastes valuable time. Finishing tasks quickly allows you to focus on other priorities and prevents burnout.

7. You boost productivity
   Productivity suffers when you’re caught in the cycle of perfecting. Action breeds progress, while perfectionism often results in procrastination.

8. You avoid procrastination
   The pressure to be perfect can lead to delays and putting off tasks. Taking action, even imperfect action, helps overcome procrastination.

9. You prevent overwork
   Trying to perfect every detail often means overworking yourself, which can harm both your efficiency and well being.

10. You avoid burnout
    The relentless pursuit of perfection can exhaust you. By choosing progress over perfection, you protect your energy and maintain a healthier work life balance.

7 ways to overcome perfectionism and move out of your own way

1. Recognise your perfectionistic tendencies
   Regularly check in with your thoughts. Notice when you’re setting unrealistically high standards or being overly critical of your work.

2. Get clear on your values
   Identify what truly matters to you. Aligning your work with your core values helps you let go of perfectionism that doesn’t serve your overall well being.

3. Set realistic, smaller Goals
   Break larger tasks into manageable pieces. Focus on completing one step at a time instead of waiting for a perfect final product.

4. Embrace mistakes as opportunities
   Understand that errors are part of the learning process. Each mistake teaches you something valuable and brings you closer to improvement.

5. Focus on what you did, not what you didn’t
   Instead of fixating on shortcomings, celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognise that progress, however imperfect, is still progress.

6. Adopt a systems approach
   Create simple, repeatable processes for your work. A system prioritises consistent effort over flawless outcomes, letting your progress compound over time.

7. Prioritise efficiency

Understand that sometimes being “good enough” is exactly what you need. Efficiency often leads to better results than getting stuck on the minutiae.

Ok, take a breath…that was a lot.

The main thing I’ve learnt over the years is that whilst I’m sat pondering and perfecting, others are doing. And they’re achieving where I’m not and they’re often doing a worse job of it than I know I would do, ha.

Once the penny dropped with me and I adopted a f*ck that attitude I thrived.

So if you feel you’re always trying to strive for perfection then take it from me, it’s not the one.