In Pursuit of Perfection and Why it’s Bad for You: How NOT to Get Sucked in by Hype and live a No-Nonsense Life!
So many of us are preoccupied with improving our productivity and perfecting our lives: perfect planning, perfect workouts, perfect diet plans, perfect calendar and To Do system, and perfect routines. It is not the systems that are at fault, it is our pursuit of perfection that is the problem in what we choose to do, and not do, each day.
Idealism and perfection affect our wellbeing. When we can’t accept that every situation has its flaws, and we insist that we can’t make a start until all our little ducks are lined up, we lose opportunities. What’s more important is getting on and doing things with the resources we already have.
Every result is simpler to achieve than we think, and we just need to let go of our need for the “perfect” conditions.
We must simplify our thinking and turn our intentions into actions, despite worrying about the perfect performance. Intentions must become actions asap if you’re to change things for the better. Perfection and Idealism paralyse us for hours on end, preventing us from making that all important start.
Not everything has to be complete in order for it to work, convey meaning or improve a situation.
What is a To Do list for anyway?
Whether you write your intentions on a To Do list in a gold-plated diary, on a platinum-coated laptop with an expensive subscription for the latest fad organisational app, or on a scrap piece of paper with a crayon, what counts is doing it. There is no rich/poor, fit/unfit, happy/unhappy divide when it comes to a task. Action is the great equaliser between all humans. Those who act get a result for acting, and those who don’t act also get a result for not acting. The tools you have pale in comparison to how you use them. You can have the most expensive tools and resources in the world, but if you don’t use them, and use them with skill, the person with the cheapest tool in the world will overtake your achievements.
Focus on the point of what you are doing and not the convenience sold to you for making your life easier and more perfect. Spend your time getting stuck into getting things done, rather than spending hours on end getting sucked into surfing every review site, unboxing and instructional video promising you better results by buying this item. Time is precious, get stuck in with what you already have at your disposal.
A To Do is only an intention that needs action.
Traps that stop you taking action
Be aware not to get trapped into unimportant and ineffective busywork. Don’t get distracted and fall down every rabbit hole that appears in your path:
This includes spontaneous reactive tasks that you can delegate for others to do.
Work that can be delayed until later as it’s not so important at the moment.
Work that you can simply Delete because it has no value.
Don’t let your obsession with the “perfect” tech, resources or “ideal” tool get in your way. A tool simply gets the job done. It is a means to an end. If you need to hammer a nail in and you don’t have a hammer, use a rock, a brick or a wooden log!
Reduce things to their simple purpose of getting it done by being resourceful:
Communication - Laptop, tablet, phone any type available to me right now for emails, messaging, word processor, spreadsheet
NOT I first need a $2700 laptop with Microsoft Office and full Adobe Creative Suite to get this done!
Photo/Video – Camera, phone camera, desk light, window, whatever is at hand now to photograph or video this
NOT – I first need a $2600 Sony A7iii camera with full Studio lighting to get this done!
A simple “No Frills” To Do to Get Stuff Done
List all you have to get done and put a number next to each in terms of importance and impact.
Your number one task will be the one which has the greatest positive impact on your day, regardless of whether you’ll enjoy it or not? If you fear the task for its difficulty, you’ll be relieved when it’s done.
Put all your commitment into getting as far as possible with this task, using whatever personal or physical resources you have at hand, without wasting time.
Follow up with your next most important task.
Celebrate each step with a short break, moment to yourself, or healthy treat.
Conclusion
Simple and obvious stuff, but it’s surprising how many people are more interested in accumulating the “perfect” paraphernalia for their journey, rather than just starting the journey with the resources they already have.
Simplify, Focus and Act!
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