4 Tips to Help Overcome Perfectionism
Managing Perfectionism and How Therapy Can Help
Perfectionism.
Being a perfectionist, while it may sound nice and create a wonderful image of an Instagram worthy home, glowing resume, successful career, and making life seem wonderful, perfectionism isn’t really all that glamourous.
It is easy to get swept up in it but on the flip side of the coin it creates a lot unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.
In part one of this 3 part blog series from last week, I shared how perfectionism can impact your mood, thoughts, and behaviors.
In part 2 of this 3 part blog series, this week we are focusing on overcoming perfectionism. I will provide 4 tips and share how therapy for perfectionism can be helpful.
I’m a therapist for perfectionism in Wilmington, NC and specialize in counseling for women in Wilmington, NC. Perfectionism can also lead to anxiety and burnout.
I provide online anxiety therapy in North Carolina and Maryland.
If you are ready to overcome perfectionism, click the button below to online schedule your free 15 minute consultation.
Keep reading for tips to help overcome perfectionism and how therapy can be helpful for perfectionism.
4 Tips to Help Overcome Perfectionism
There are lots of strategies to help overcome perfectionism. All of them can be very useful but these are my top 4 for when I work with clients managing perfectionism. Check them out and see what might work best for you!
Tip #1 to Overcome Perfectionism: Increase Your Awareness
Whether I am working with a client on their anxiety, feelings of burnout, or perfectionism this is most often my number one important tip, increasing your awareness.
Being able to identify in the present moment when you may be experiencing particular feelings or emotions, body sensations, and thoughts is so helpful in figuring out how you want to react or do about something. Most times it is our lack of awareness that can cause problems.
Incorporating mindfulness helps to increase awareness.
Tip #2 to Overcome Perfectionism: Set Reasonable Goals for Yourself
Goals are so important to perfectionists. These goals become a measuring stick to how well the perfectionist performs or measures up. The tricky thing about these goals is often a perfectionists goals are like moving targets.
Most often the perfectionist discounts achieving the goal or it wasn’t good enough and the perfectionist wants more or better.
Feelings of unhappiness, discouragement, low self-esteem, and disappointment are common.
It is important to set reasonable goals for yourself and also make sure to set reasonable expectations for yourself as well.
Tip #3 to Overcome Perfectionism: Focus on the Process Not the Outcome
So often perfectionists tend to have blinders on to everything that is happening on the way to the end goal. There is so much that is missed when focusing solely on the outcome.
Encouraging clients to take a step back and focus on the process along the way is also a great way to become more aware and present with what is happening. There is so much learning that can come from being in the process and understanding the process rather than fixated on the finish line.
Tip #4 to Overcome Perfectionism: Allow Yourself to Make Mistakes
Allow yourself to make a mistake.
There I said it.
I know for a fact it is probably not the easiest thing to do but it is an important step. Because perfectionism is so closely tied to anxiety, it is important to be able to break the cycle and do something different.
Even when your mind is telling you that you cannot make the mistake or must do something, those anxious thoughts are not necessarily there to help you and keep you safe. Being able to confront these worries and anxious thoughts can actually help you to overcome perfectionism.
Take a breath.
Not to be cliché but mistakes are a part of life and a big reality that is nearly impossible to hide from constantly. The important part is that we learn and take away something from the process. This does not necessarily mean go bomb the company presentation on purpose, fail the math test, or not clean the house, etc. because you are testing your limits (this is the all-or-nothing thinking perfectionism does). Finding other ways to challenge yourself in this area is something that a therapist for perfectionism can help you recognize.
Start Treatment for Perfectionism in Wilmington, NC at Calm Waters Counseling
Getting treatment to overcome perfectionism is possible. There are also a variety of different therapy approaches for perfectionism. At Calm Waters Counseling, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT therapy) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT therapy) to address perfectionism and anxiety. In both of ACT and CBT, I also incorporate a lot of mindfulness techniques and approaches.
To get started in therapy for perfectionism at Calm Waters Counseling, follow these 4 simple steps listed below.
Online schedule your free 15 minute consultation by clicking the button below
Complete the brief questionnaire sent to your email
Meet with your caring therapist
Start living your life more in control
Therapy for high achieving women in Wilmington, NC and Other Services Offered at Calm Waters Counseling
In addition to therapy for perfectionism, I also specialize in anxiety treatment and burnout counseling.
Learn more about me and my anxiety counseling in Wilmington, NC.
Online Therapy for Anxiety in Wilmington, NC
Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is helpful for treating anxiety and perfectionism and most therapy approaches can easily be transferred to using virtual therapy.
If you are interested in learning more about online therapy for perfectionism in North Carolina and Maryland, check out the links below.
Online Therapy in Maryland
Online Therapy in North Carolina
If you have been thinking of trying online therapy but would like more information, check out these recent blog posts on online therapy.
Benefits of Using Online Therapy for Anxiety Relief
Does Online Therapy Actually Work?
Is Online Therapy Right for Me?
Still have questions? Click the buttons below to get some answers!
Written by: Laura Rippeon, LCSW, LCSW-C
Updated 3/14/23