Perfectionism often sneaks in when you’re aiming for excellence. It starts as a drive to do your best but can quickly spiral into endless revisions, second-guessing, and an inability to let go. Sound familiar?

Maybe it’s that report you’ve been editing for weeks, hoping it will be flawless before you hit “submit.” Or perhaps it’s the class syllabus you’ve rewritten so many times that you’ve forgotten what version you’re on.

While perfectionism pushes you to aim high, it often comes at a cost: delays, frustration, and a loss of joy in the process. Worse, it can leave you stuck, hesitant to share your work or move forward because it doesn’t feel “good enough.”

What if there’s a better way? Instead of fixating on outcomes, what if you allowed yourself to focus on other meaningful aspects of your work?

Introducing the “PNP” framework

In The Perfectionism Workbook, Newendorp (2018) offers a practical antidote to outcome obsession: Progress, Not Perfection (PNP). It’s an invitation to shift your attention to what’s happening as you work, and not fixate only on the shiny (and possibly unattainable) ideal you’ve set for the end result.

A key strength of the PNP framework is that it offers powerful alternatives and ways to direct your energy.

9 “Ps” to help you shift focus

1. Progress: What small wins can I celebrate today?

Example: You’re revising a grant proposal. Instead of focussing on the sections you still need to re-work, celebrate having a clear outline or finalizing the budget section.

2. Persistence: What keeps me showing up?

Example: You’re struggling with a tricky research paper. Rather than expecting major progress every day, acknowledge the value of dedicating even 30 minutes to steady work.

3. Productivity: What could productivity look like if it reflected my priorities for today?

Example: You’re juggling multiple committee responsibilities. Maybe today, productivity looks like organizing one agenda or responding to key emails.

4. Participation: How can I engage further in the process?

Example: Instead of zoning out during a faculty meeting because the policy discussion feels tedious, focus on contributing a specific idea or asking a clarifying question to move the conversation forward.

5. Patience: What would it look like to give myself more time?

Example : Your syllabus draft isn’t where you want it to be, but stepping away and revisiting it tomorrow might bring fresh insights.

6. Preparation: How can I set myself up for success?

Example : Preparing for a job interview? Spend time researching the company rather than rehearsing perfect answers to every potential question.

7. Perspective: If I zoomed out, what might I notice about the value of this work?

Example: While preparing a presentation, zoom out to think about the value it provides to your audience rather than fixating on whether every slide looks flawless.

8. Positivity: What’s going well today?

Example: Had a tough workday? Maybe a colleague’s comment acknowledging how you handled a tricky situation helped you see the value in your approach, even if it wasn’t perfect.

9. Personal preference: How can I make this process feel more meaningful to me?

Example: While grading a stack of essays, remind yourself that your feedback contributes to students’ growth and learning. Focusing on this impact can shift your attention away from aiming for the ‘perfect’ grading system.

Over to You

Here’s an open invitation: the next time you find yourself fixating on the outcome (and losing the joy in doing something as a result), pick one or more of the Ps to focus on.  Ask yourself:

• What’s one “P” that resonates most with me now? How can I use that to reframe my approach to a current project?
• How might focusing on this “P” shift my experience of the task?