Done or not? Deciding that your work is ready to share

You tweak. You adjust. You revise. And then you do it all over again. When is it actually time to stop?

For perfectionists, “one more revision” is rarely just one. The pursuit of “good enough” can turn into never-ending work. You tell yourself you’ll submit the manuscript after one final check. You’ll send the email once you adjust the wording. You’ll share your presentation when you have the right images. And, so on…

The problems with this approach are many, including that the work doesn’t get out into the world where it can make an impact.

The cost of not releasing your work

When we delay on releasing our work because we’re continually “improving it” (so we tell ourselves), this takes a toll. Not only does it consume a lot of time, but also:

• Missed opportunities. The time spent endlessly tweaking could be used for something else: doing non-work activities that you value, preparing for an upcoming project, or resting.
• Increased stress and frustration. The longer we delay, the more we feed the inner critic: “Why is this taking so long? What’s wrong with me?” Do you recognize that voice?
• Falling behind on other goals. Whether you work in higher education or not, work usually consists of multiple projects simultaneously. Spending too much time on one thing means something else gets pushed aside.
• Burnout. The feeling that work is never done can make everything feel overwhelming.

Perfectionism and procrastination: Best buddies

When we think of procrastination, we often picture avoiding a task altogether. But procrastination can also show up at the end of a project, when we struggle to let go.

Psychologist Joseph Ferrari (2023) defines procrastination as “the voluntary delay of an intended course of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay.” By this definition, tweaking endlessly, and knowing that behaviour is preventing us from moving forward, fits right in.

If waiting to feel ready isn’t working, what will? Here are two strategies to help you release your work with more confidence.

Two strategies to help you release your work with more confidence

1. Define “Done”

Instead of relying on a vague sense of readiness, define what “done” looks like before you start. This prevents endless tweaking and helps you focus on the project’s actual purpose.

Ask yourself:

• What criteria will make this complete and ready to share?
• If I had to submit this today, what’s essential versus nice to have?
• How can I bring in external accountability? (Many perfectionists feel shame around this one and hang on to the unhelpful belief that “I should be able to do this myself”. Check in with yourself to determine if that’s going on.)

Example:

If you’re a faculty member drafting a manuscript, you might define “done” as meeting journal guidelines, ensuring clarity, and having one trusted colleague review it. If you’re someone developing a presentation for work, you might define “done” once you’ve covered key points concisely and included relevant visuals (rather than obsessing over fonts and photos).

2. The impact over perfection lens

Perfection doesn’t add value if the work already fulfills its purpose. Instead of asking, “Is this flawless?” and/or “Is this as good as I can make it?” try shifting the question to impact.

Ask yourself:

• Does this meet its core purpose?
• Will further tweaks meaningfully improve the work, or am I trying to ease my anxiety?
• If someone else presented this work, would I think it was more than good enough?

Example:

If you’re a faculty member conducting research, you might delay writing up your findings if you fear you haven’t covered every angle. Instead of relentlessly asking yourself what you’ve missing, you can remind yourself that the analysis and findings so far have value and need to get out to a wider public.

If you’re a university instructor preparing for an upcoming course, you might hesitate to finalize lesson plans and worry you haven’t selected the best interactive learning activities. Instead, you could try out what you have planned, and trust yourself to adapt on the spot if needed.

Letting go and moving forward

Releasing your work isn’t about settling. It’s about progress and sustaining yourself in the long-run. It’s also about trusting that your work, while not perfect, is valuable and needs to be shared.

Reference

Ferrari, J. (2024) in How to Stop Procrastinating, According to the World’s Leading Expert (It’s Not What You Think) on the Mel Robbins Podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZQF1jV07Lo