People frequently boast that they are perfectionists in public. “I’m a perfectionist; I can’t help it,”
It should come as no surprise that doing things well makes us all happy. It helps us feel special or different. Being a perfectionist appears ideal on the surface. In addition to having an excellent eye for detail, you are constantly willing to push yourself to accomplish the next big thing or a feat no one has ever done before.
Perfectionists actually play a losing game, it’s true.
But having a perfectionism complex has drawbacks. You won’t notice these drawbacks until you stand back and consider how your perfectionism has helped you in the past.
1. Procrastination
Ironically, certain perfectionists frequently struggle with procrastination.
Why is it the case? First of all, a perfectionist often imagines an idealized version of how things ought to be. So when it comes time to work, they become incredibly meticulous, start to obsess over everything, become bogged down by every issue, and become consumed by the desire to produce everything flawlessly.
Procrastination is the act of delaying a task to obtain some respite while actually delaying the agony that they are creating with each task. Over time, the “pain” of such careful attention becomes too unpleasant.
Second, perfectionists are particular about needing the ideal surroundings before beginning their work. They must first have enough time, then put ABC in place, then put XYZ in place, and only then will they feel prepared to begin.
They won’t feel like starting as long as any one piece is missing. They would simply put things off repeatedly in order to wait for the “ideal” time to complete them.
Of course, the perfectionist is simply deluding themselves in the end. This is due to the fact that procrastination in the name of perfectionism results in nothing being accomplished.
That’s worse than just trying; even if the result is subpar, there is still a foundation from which to grow.
Thus, procrastination caused by perfectionism is a trap where someone delays their goals in the name of “perfection.”
2. Low Productivity
When undertaking a task or endeavor, perfectionists have a propensity to pay excessive attention to every detail. Even the less significant details are included in this.
They consequently become underproductive because they spend too much time on a single task. Additionally, becoming overly concerned with details will make you a workaholic, which will ultimately reduce your productivity.
3. Socially Awkward
The majority of perfectionists are quite socially awkward and may be very introverted since they prefer to finish the task at hand over socializing. People may mistake them for a control freak because they are so rigid with details.
Additionally, they ought to make an effort to socialize with others who exhibit attributes like leadership, are ambient extroverts, and so on. This aids in their leadership development and boosts their self-assurance in social situations.
4. Perfectionism, Anxiety, and Depression are All Bedfellows
Although the definition of “perfection” is “absence of faults,” perfectionism, as a personality trait, refers to the urge to be, or appear to be, perfect.
Unfortunately, this requirement from people who seem to be focused, ambitious, and high achievers can result in unrealistic goals that are unlikely to ever be satisfied. Procrastination, a reduced sense of self-worth, and increased worry are all side effects of this.
Feeling never good enough, as though they’ve let themselves and others down, and feeling like a continual failure is yet another risky side effect of perfectionism.
The problem with perfectionism is that even though a perfectionist rarely feels perfect, he or she has a fierce desire to be. Perfectionism, if unchecked, can develop into severe, ongoing anxiety and even chronic depression.
5. Hand in Hand With Burnout
“Perfect is the enemy of the good,” declared Voltaire.
Unfortunately, perfectionism has a drawback that many people who strive for it frequently experience. They establish very demanding, strict, or unachievable standards. This ideal positions a person for failure, disappointment, and a poor opinion of themselves.
For something to be “perfect,” a perfectionist would frequently spend hours, days, or even weeks reworking it.
A perfectionist is infrequently pleased with the outcome of anything, including school assignments, professional presentations, and home improvement projects. Although this might not seem like a major deal — after all, getting things just perfectly is a good thing, right? — this commitment to perfection results in a distorted perception of time and reality, which eventually causes burnout.
It’s crucial to keep perfectionism and burnout at bay because they go hand in hand.
6. Deep-Seated Unhappiness
Due to their perfectionism, many people struggle internally, possibly more so than the average individual.
They frequently deal with their perfectionism, where they blame themselves for not doing as much as they wanted to and beat themselves up for things they did incorrectly or not to their satisfaction.
They struggle greatly and are very unhappy as a result of their perfectionism. They struggle with their tasks yet won’t ask for assistance. Despite having extremely high standards for themselves, they put off finishing their work. Finally, they strive for perfection and accuracy in everything, but they find that this accuracy makes them terribly unhappy.
In the end, they construct this barrier of suffering, this cavern of sorrow, which they grieve and endure every day.
7. General Health Issues
Most often workaholics, perfectionists won’t stop until they get the desired output.
They frequently forgo leisure time, food, and sleep in favor of work. Additionally, they are constantly concerned about what can go wrong and whether they will succeed in their goals.
Since their physical and mental health are likely to suffer as a result, perfectionists are less likely to be productive.
8. Slow Recovery
According to studies, perfectionists are more likely to have bad health and are also more likely to recover from illness and injuries slowly.
The lives of perfectionists are slowed down by three main factors: stress from the demands they place on themselves; persistent bad feelings from never experiencing delight in their accomplishments; and lack of social support.
A Dutch study that was published in the year 2010 in the journal Circulation supported these conclusions. The study, which included more than 6,000 heart disease patients, discovered that perfectionists were three times more likely to develop new heart issues.
9. Difficulty in Letting Go
Perfectionists struggle to let go. letting go of control over their work, their errors, and their faults.
Because of this, if you’re a perfectionist, you’ve likely gone through the following:
- You are averse to delegation because you are concerned that others will botch your task.
- You are unable to stop thinking about your job since doing so makes you terrified that everything will fall apart.
- Even after delegating, you continue to micromanage and worry about what can happen, even though your staff is functioning properly.
- You take a lot of time fixing insignificant errors that don’t matter.
- You continue to reflect on ‘failures’ from the past, notwithstanding their passage of time.
This inability to let go makes you feel as though you are carrying the entire world on your shoulders as your duties increase. In the end, despite having no justification for feeling this way, you feel incredibly burdened by everything.
10. Compromises in Relationships
Relationships can be seriously harmed by perfectionism.
Why? If you’re a perfectionist, your work’s excellence frequently takes precedence over everything, even relationships. Less time spent with your loved ones implies less quality time. When times are rough, you would rather put all of your effort into perfecting your work, putting your relationships on hold.
When things are difficult at work or in their personal relationships, some perfectionists snap at those close to them.
When a perfectionist’s work doesn’t go well, which, let’s face it, virtually always happens because of their impossibly high standards, their friends and family suffer because they link themselves so personally with their performance.
Some perfectionists may even impose their high expectations on those they love, expecting their spouse or family member to hold themselves to the same high standards. An illustration would be a mother who constantly demands that her child receive 100 out of 100 on tests, or a wife or husband who accuses their partner of not carrying out household duties in the manner that is ideal in their eyes.
It is obvious that such pressure simply strains your relationships. In the end, perfectionism not only makes you feel empty but also drains your relationships and alienates your loved ones.
11. Stagnation (Having Stopped With No Changes)
Stagnation is one of the ironic costs of perfectionism.
Perfectionists frequently adhere to a particular method of operation that they believe to be the greatest. They are resistant to accept advice from others because they believe they are infallible. This prevents individuals from having the chance to experience new things and learn from them, which leads to stagnation.
12. Short Sightedness
Typically, perfectionists are so preoccupied with the minute details that they fail to see the wider picture. They discover that they are more focused on the outcome than the process.
For instance, if you are a manager, you can be more focused on achieving your goals than on helping your staff members reach their full potential. Your potential is constrained by shortsightedness, which keeps you from being a visionary leader.