Ever spent 10-minutes choosing a font for a presentation… then another 10-minutes wondering if you should just scrap the whole thing and start again?
Or maybe you’ve held off posting that brilliant idea on social media because the caption didn’t feel deep enough?
Or perhaps you spend longer editing the breath sounds out of a meditation than it takes to record the entire thing?
As usual, I’m talking about myself again 😅, but maybe one or two of you can resonate?
At first glance, perfectionism looks like high standards, discipline, drive.
But scratch the surface? You’ll find it’s often fuelled by fear, shame, and the sneaky belief that “if I’m perfect, I’ll be safe.”
This week, we’re talking about perfectionism—the good, the bad, and the ‘so good it’s actually ruining your life’.
And if you need help switching off at night? My new Vagus Nerve Meditation below is here to guide you into effortless sleep.
The Hidden Cost of Perfectionism
Perfectionism isn’t all bad.
For many high-achievers, it’s what helped you succeed in the first place. It’s the reason your reports are immaculate, your presentations land, and your clients trust you.
But here’s the catch: it never knows when to stop.
Instead of pushing you to do well, it pushes you to never make a mistake. And that’s when it turns toxic.
Because when perfectionism is running the show, rest and relaxation feels irresponsible, ‘done’ is never good enough, and you can’t enjoy your wins because there’s always something to improve.
Signs You’re in a Perfectionist Loop
You might be deep in perfectionist mode if:
You delay starting something until the conditions are just right
You redo the same task over and over, even when it’s already solid
You obsess over details that don’t actually change the outcome
You can’t hit “publish” until everything is polished to within an inch of its life
You struggle to stop, rest, or celebrate—even when it’s deserved
The tricky part? Most of this feels reasonable. Until you realise it’s been three hours, and all you’ve done is reword the intro sentence 17 times.
Practical Tools to Loosen the Grip of Perfectionism
If perfectionism has been running the show lately, try these techniques:
The 80% Rule - Aim for 80% done, not 100% flawless. Most of the time, 80% is more than good enough—and the last 20% is where burnout lives.
Set a Time Limit - Pick a task, set a timer, and stop when it rings. No tweaking, no second-guessing. Just done. Trust me, it’ll feel uncomfortable. That means it’s working.
Schedule Imperfection - Once a week, do something deliberately imperfect: post the thing without rereading it. Send the message with a typo. Wear the slightly wrinkled shirt. Teach your nervous system that imperfection isn’t dangerous.
Ask the Key Question - When you catch yourself obsessing, pause and ask: “Is this helping me get better results, or is it just causing me stress?” Nine times out of ten? It’s the latter.
Use the Mantra - “Done is better than perfect.” - Stick it on your laptop. Say it out loud. Whisper it to your inner critic. Whatever works.
Want to Practise Letting Go Right Now?
Start with this:
Pick one small thing today—and let it be imperfect on purpose.
Then notice:
What happened?
How did it feel?
Did the world fall apart?
▶ Watch: How to Stop Being a Perfectionist | Perfectionism Masterclass with Chibs Okereke
Join Me Live: Breaking Free from Perfectionism
We’re going deep on this in this week’s YouTube Live session.
You’ll learn:
✔️ Why perfectionism develops (and how it hides behind ambition)
✔️ How to spot it in the moment
✔️ Tools to interrupt the cycle and build self-compassion
✔️ The difference between Healthy Excellence and Harmful Perfectionism
Join me live here: https://www.youtube.com/live/6bq3eB6reS0
IMPORTANT: The clocks have changed for many of us, so note the new times below (sorry Europe 😢)
🕑 Los Angeles: 3 PM, Sunday, 6th April
🕔 New York: 6 PM, Sunday, 6th April
🕘 London: 11 PM, Sunday, 6th April
🕗 Sydney: 8 AM, Monday, 7th April
And if you’re struggling to switch off tonight because your brain is replaying all the “not good enough” moments from the day, my Vagus Nerve Sleep Meditation is a great place to land. Gentle, grounding, and designed to ease the tension out of your system.
Don’t Miss This: A Burnout Conversation That Goes Deeper
On 16th April, I’m joining Pick My Brain on Cuppa.tv for a live session on burnout—not just the busy kind, but the deep kind, shaped by who you learned to be.
We’ll talk about:
How early life experiences shape your adult stress response
Why high-achievers often struggle to rest
The difference between true boundaries and performative ones
When being “helpful” is actually burning you out
Tools to rewire your relationship with work and self-worth
📅 Date: 16th April, 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM AEST
Here’s to progress over perfection… and trusting that you are enough, even when the work isn’t perfect.
Warmly,
Chibs 💙
