Perfectionism is when you think everything has to be just right before it’s good enough, but that can make life feel like a never-ending puzzle with no end.
Imagine you're building a tower with blocks, and you want every block to be perfectly aligned. You spend so much time making sure each one is just right, that by the time you finish your tower, it's almost time for dinner. But you didn’t get to play with your friends or eat cake, you were too busy trying to make a perfect tower.
Perfectionism isn't perfect because it can stop you from having fun or finishing things just because they're not flawless. It’s like wearing shoes that are so tight, you can’t even walk, you’re trying too hard to be perfect, and you forget to enjoy the journey.
How to Overcome Perfectionism
Sometimes, it helps to think about "good enough" instead of "perfect." Like when you're drawing a picture, if your lines aren't perfectly straight, that's okay. It still looks like a cool picture!
You can also try setting smaller goals. If building a tower is too hard, maybe start with just five blocks. Once you finish those, you'll feel proud and ready to build more.
Remember: being good enough means you get to enjoy your time, no need for everything to be perfect!
Examples
- A student spends hours redoing a single math problem because they want it perfect, even though the rest of their class is done.
- Someone refuses to go on vacation because they’re worried about missing an important email.
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