Perfectionism Alert! Part 7 of 19.

In 2019 I will be happily less than perfect Nothing drives burnout like a healthy dose of perfectionism. Dialling back the tendency for perfectionism might just be the greatest decision you make for your wellbeing and stress levels in 2019. Depending on our personality type, it can be hard not to react to the parade of perfect presented around us. So much media content (traditional and social) magnifies perfect that it can be viewed, not as inspirational and aspirational (and with a healthy pinch of salt), but as evidence that we are somehow not quite good enough. That we just don’t have our shit together in a world where everyone else miraculously seems to. But… if we just push that little bit harder, get up that little bit earlier, keep things just that bit more organised and make a just a few more lists, we might just get there. Perfect hangs tantalisingly just out of our grasp like a carrot on a stick. The thing is, perfect is a mirage. Like the oasis in the desert, it’s not really there. It’s an unstable image that changes according to our perception and viewpoint.  Striving to reach that place of perfection is absolutely exhausting, and for every step nearer we take, it will get another step further away. You can choose to dial down the perfectionism this year with a few simple decisions: Do something with – Shock! Horror! – 80% effort. Knowingly don’t do something to the best of your ability! Woot! Pick something that’s not that important and do it okay…. Read more