Blog: Perfectionism
Why perfectionists don’t like self-compassion
Why Perfectionists Don’t Like Self-Compassion I’ve come around, but only in the last few years. Before that, when I encountered advice to "practice self-compassion," I’d cringe. I probably even did an internal eye-roll. Well, friends, things have changed, and I’m now...
Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism
Is perfectionism all bad? Spoiler alert: No! But, you'd think so, from the way it's usually depicted online, in blog posts, and in most book titles on the topic. The dominant message we get about perfectionism in the above is that it's something to overcome, to get...
Being in motion vs taking action: There’s a difference
There's a difference between being in motion and taking action. It's subtle, but matters to the way we spend our time and where we invest our energy. In my personal experience, finding the "right" balance between motion and action impacts my sense of work...
Your to-do list makeover (try this to reduce overwhelm)
Do you have a massive list of to-dos? I do, and rely on it heavily. I always have one on the go because my task list helps me: get things outside my head with prioritization and accountability create order get things done Though I am a to-do list enthusiast, I also...
A tool to manage your imposter syndrome
Here's a tool to help manage your imposter "syndrome" when it shows up in your career. Which, as research suggests, is often, especially if you have perfectionistic characteristics, which many academics do. In fact, because all people, regardless of gender, race,...
Are you an ambitious perfectionist?! Find out.
Are you an ambitious perfectionist? Some of us don't even have to contemplate the question, we know the response is "YES!" Others need to think about it. And another category of folx will initially respond "no" and then review this list and shift to "actually, maybe...
Use a distraction log to reduce procrastination
Procrastination, writes James Clear, is a force that prevents us from following through on what we set out to do. Given this force [I love his choice of that word], we need something equally powerful to counteract and resist procrastination. Enter the use of a...
Tips to get unstuck from perfectionism
Here are 12 tips to help you get unstuck from your perfectionism when it shows up, slows you down, is annoying, or sucks you into its vortex. There are no easy-peasy solutions to "overcome" perfectionism (I don't believe in overcoming perfectionism as I've written...
5 ways to set boundaries at work and temper your perfectionism
Do you struggle to set boundaries at work (and then uphold them!) because you are an ambitious perfectionist who is: uber responsible (you don't want to displease) focussed on high quality (you have elevated standards) avoiding failure (you're experiencing imposter...
Reach your goals faster
Reach your goals with ease We set goals because we want to reach them--they represent something important to us. And, whether we articulate a timeframe or not, we usually have one in mind. That goes for anything ranging from securing a more senior position at work to...
Pessimism can be good for your career (thank you worried mind!)
When you've got a big work project or task coming up, do you feel like you waste time worrying? And then get irritated with yourself for worrying and thinking of the worse? (because for Pete's sake, you'd really like to be more calm, cool, and confident given your...
Worksheet for perfectionists: A better option than self-criticism
Here's a worksheet for perfectionists who want to stop beating themselves down when they don't live up to their own high standards... Ok, just between you and me, how far back do you have to go to recall an event when you perceive you failed or somehow let yourself...