Perfectionism and Productivity Go Together Like Water and Oil... They Don't




Raise your hand if you've ever spent 45 minutes formatting a document that should’ve taken five. Or if you've agonised over crafting the perfect email, only to hit send and realise, oops, typo. Welcome to the club—you might be a perfectionist. And while that drive for flawlessness sounds admirable, it’s productivity’s ultimate buzzkill.


The Oil and Water Dilemma

Picture this: productivity is water, fluid and adaptable. Perfectionism is oil, thick and unyielding. Together? A recipe for stagnation.

When perfectionism takes the reins, it convinces you that unless you have the perfect plan, you shouldn’t start. Productivity, meanwhile, just wants to get things done. The result? Your to-do list is stuck at square one while you’re obsessing over whether your bullet points should be circles instead.


The Myth of Perfect

Here’s the thing: perfection doesn’t exist. It’s like chasing a unicorn—you can dream about it, but you’ll never actually catch it. And while you’re busy hunting for mythical flawlessness, productivity is waving at you from the land of “good enough.”

Does this mean you should settle for mediocrity? Not at all. It means embracing progress over perfection.


The Paralysis of Overthinking

Perfectionism often masquerades as diligence, but let’s call it what it is: fear. Fear of failure, judgement, or not being “enough.” Instead of getting things done, you’re stuck analysing every possibility until decision fatigue sets in.

Think about it—how many opportunities have you missed because you were too busy perfecting Plan A to even consider Plan B?


Progress Is the New Perfect

The antidote to perfectionism is a shift in mindset. Try this mantra: Done is better than perfect. This doesn’t mean you stop caring; it means you stop obsessing.

Write the blog. Fix typos later.

Present the idea, even if your PowerPoint isn’t a visual masterpiece.

Show up. Mess up. Learn.

By focusing on progress, you not only get more done but also open yourself to growth and creativity.


Productivity Hack: The 80/20 Rule

Perfectionists, take note: 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Instead of spending hours polishing something to perfection, aim for effectiveness. Your future self will thank you.


Closing Thought

Perfectionism and productivity aren’t best mates, and that’s okay. The magic happens when you stop forcing them to mix and instead let productivity lead the way. Your dreams aren’t waiting for perfect; they’re waiting for action.

Now go forth, be gloriously imperfect, and get things done.


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