The Perfectionism Trap: Why ‘Good Enough’ is the Key to Success

Have you ever put off a project because you wanted it to be just right? Or spent hours tweaking something that was already good enough, just in case someone spotted a flaw?

If that sounds familiar, you might be caught in the perfectionism trap.

For years, I thought perfectionism was a strength. I believed that holding myself to impossibly high standards would guarantee success. But in reality, all it did was leave me feeling exhausted, anxious and stuck. I’d procrastinate because I was scared of getting things wrong. I’d overwork myself to make sure everything was flawless. And if I did achieve something, I’d barely celebrate because my mind was already racing to the next thing that needed improving.

Sound familiar? If you’re constantly chasing perfection, it might be the very thing stopping you from making real progress.

How Perfectionism Holds You Back

At first glance, perfectionism seems like a good thing. After all, striving for excellence isn’t bad, right? But there’s a big difference between working hard and setting impossible standards for yourself. Here’s how perfectionism can keep you stuck:

1. Procrastination & Paralysis

Perfectionists often put things off, not because they’re lazy, but because the fear of making a mistake is overwhelming. If you won’t allow yourself to produce anything less than perfect, starting becomes impossible. So you wait for the right moment, the perfect plan, the ideal conditions… and nothing ever gets done.

2. Constant Overworking & Burnout

If you do manage to push past the procrastination, perfectionism makes even simple tasks take forever. You rewrite emails five times before sending them, double-check every detail and spend far too long making tiny improvements no one else would even notice. The result? Exhaustion, frustration and feeling like no amount of effort is ever enough.

3. Fear of Failure & Self-Doubt

Perfectionism is sneaky because it doesn’t just affect what you do, it shapes how you see yourself. If your self-worth is tied to your achievements, even small mistakes can feel like personal failures. You might avoid taking risks or putting yourself out there because the idea of getting it wrong feels unbearable.

Perfectionism isn’t about high standards—it’s about fear. Fear of criticism, fear of failure and fear of not being enough. But the irony is, perfectionism doesn’t protect us from failure it guarantees it. Because when we wait for perfect, we miss opportunities, delay progress and stay stuck in a cycle of self-doubt. The antidote? Courage over perfection. Progress over procrastination. Action over overthinking.

"Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving for excellence. Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth. It’s a shield." – Brené Brown

4. Holding Back Your Own Growth

Ironically, perfectionism actually stops you from improving. When you avoid trying new things for fear of failure, you miss out on the learning and growth that come from making mistakes. The most successful people aren’t those who never fail, they’re the ones who fail fast, learn quickly and keep moving forward.

Why ‘Good Enough’ is the Secret to Success

So, if perfectionism is holding you back, what’s the alternative?

The answer is simple: good enough. Now, I know that phrase might make some perfectionists cringe but hear me out.

“Good enough” doesn’t mean settling for mediocrity. It means recognising when something is already valuable and choosing progress over endless tweaking. Here’s why it works:

Progress Beats Perfection – You’ll never get anywhere if you don’t start. Done is always better than perfect.

You’ll Build Confidence Faster – Taking action (even imperfect action) helps you prove to yourself that you can handle setbacks, make adjustments and keep going.

You’ll Get More Done – When you let go of perfection, you free up time and energy to move forward instead of obsessing over details that don’t really matter.

You’ll Reduce Stress & Enjoy Life More – Imagine how much lighter you’d feel without the constant pressure of unrealistic expectations!

How to Break Free from the Perfectionism Trap

Letting go of perfectionism takes practice, but here are some steps that have helped me (and my clients) shift their mindset:

1. Challenge Your Inner Critic – Ask yourself: Would I expect this level of perfection from a friend or colleague? If not, why am I demanding it from myself?

2. Set Realistic Standards – Not everything needs to be a masterpiece. Learn to recognise when something is good enough to move forward.

3. Practice ‘Done is Better Than Perfect’ – Try setting time limits on tasks and sticking to them. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you stop over-editing.

4. Embrace Imperfection – Follow people who share their failures and setbacks openly. The more you see that nobody is perfect, the easier it is to let go of that pressure.

5. Take Small, Imperfect Actions – Challenge yourself to do things before you feel ready. Send the email, launch the project, speak up in the meeting, whatever it is, just start.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be Perfect to Succeed

Breaking free from perfectionism doesn’t mean lowering your standards, it means focusing on what actually matters. It’s about creating space for growth, confidence and balance instead of running yourself into the ground.

So, here’s my challenge for you today: Pick one thing you’ve been putting off because it’s not perfect yet and take action right now.

It doesn’t have to be flawless; it just has to be done.

If perfectionism is something you’re really struggling with, let’s talk. I help ambitious individuals shift from stress to success and I’d love to help you break free from the perfectionism trap.

Visit www.therapywithnicola.com or click here to book a free discovery call.