Perfection is a Distraction

Image by Jonathan Hoxmark via Unsplash

How many times have you procrastinated because something wasn’t perfect? How many things have you put off because the conditions weren’t quite right? If you’re like me the answer may be more than you’re willing to admit. Perfection, or rather, the idea of perfection is a distraction.

I’m more than sure I’ve written about this in the past on some other blog or in a random notebook, but it still rings true. Perfection is one of the biggest hindrances to progress. There are things in my life right now that I have stopped myself from doing because I can’t do them perfectly or to the level I see in my head.

The key to pushing past this is to do it and move on. A common rephrasing of this is “done is better than perfect.” One thing I always forget (and I’m sure you do too) is that I can always change something. You can always improve, get better, create a new version or iteration. But if you don’t do the first step, you can’t make it better.

Another easy analogy is writing a paper for school. There’s the outline of ideas, the first draft, the second draft, and the final draft. There are usually other drafts in there depending on the paper, but you get the idea. You won’t reach the final draft unless you go through the steps.

Every now and then there will come a time when you outline in your head and the first draft is the final draft. But knowing that the first draft could be just that, a first draft, could create the mindset shift needed to push you to do your thing.

This message is for anyone who needs it, myself included: STOP TRYING TO BE PERFECT. Perfection is a distraction.