Don't Get Hung Up on Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a tricky subject. Striving for perfection does not mean that you need to be a perfectionist. Research has shown that perfectionism can lead to a toxic lifestyle, where a person is more focused on avoiding failure than actually achieving success. This is a tough pill to swallow as we prioritize our legal education above all else. For me personally, it took me a long time to learn that I can’t fit everyone’s understanding of perfect and that I will truly be okay just by doing my personal best.

Since fear of failure and perfectionism are very intertwined concepts, we have compiled the following tips for dealing with such stresses:

1. Reevaluate your standards:

Sitting down and really thinking about your standards for yourself can lead to some really great outcomes. Perhaps you’ll realize that you’re pushing yourself too far and too much or you realize that you’re giving yourself anxiety from your own expectations. Being able to dig deep and understand the impact of your own expectations can help you change those expectations into something that doesn’t contribute to your stress.

Other people will also always have expectations and standards for you, but you need to focus on yourself and your own well-being.

2. Don’t let perfectionism turn you into a procrastinator:

Procrastination is a common issue, even for procrastinators. Sometimes the fear of a task not ending up perfectly or not living up to your expectations can lead you to leave the task for another day. Unfortunately, when you’re busy and already stressed out, leaving something for another day will elevate your stress levels even more. Sometimes you just need to tackle the goal or assignment that you’ve been avoiding and do the best you can do with it. Even if that means going back through it a few times to make sure that you end up with a good final project.

3. Find the time to meditate:

This can mean something different to everyone. However, sometimes we all need to find a moment to truly reflect and breathe deeply. When you’re striving to hit a perfect standard (that often doesn’t even exist), feelings of self-doubt and frustration will often circulate in your mind.

Be able to recognize those feelings and give yourself a minute to refocus your thoughts or to just breathe and count to ten. With how little sleep we’re getting during our finals period, we are all especially susceptible to such thoughts. Remember to appreciate your accomplishments and your work ethic, instead of trying to be a perfectionist.

4. Laugh and enjoy yourself:

Laughter is a great way to get past any situation. Whether you feel like you underwhelmed at a networking event or wrote an email with a blatant typo, be able to laugh at your mistakes and learn from them. Being angry or embarrassed won’t fix the situation, especially if you’re clouded with emotion. A laugh will help you move on and it will show your resilience.

A legal career is such a unique experience and its one that we’ll cherish and remember for the rest of our lives. You don’t want your entire career to be riddled with self-doubt and constant anxiety. Be able to find the positivity in your experiences and the joy in your work.