You sit down to write.
You have the idea.
You even have the perfect playlist queued up.
But before you type a single word, your brain taps you on the shoulder like an overzealous English teacher and whispers, “Shouldn’t this be in Times New Roman? And shouldn’t we Google ‘how to write the perfect blog post’ just one more time?”
Congratulations.
You’ve just met the internal editor known as Perfectionism, who wears sensible shoes and carries a red pen she’s not afraid to use.
She’s not here to help. She’s here to stall you until your dreams quietly die under a pile of perfectly formatted to-do lists.
Let’s get out before she alphabetizes your goals.
What Perfectionism Pretends to Be (and Why It’s Lying to You)
Perfectionism is sneaky.
It shows up in job interviews as “I just have really high standards” and on dating profiles as “detail-oriented.”
But behind the buzzwords, it’s just fear in a trench coat.
You think you’re striving for excellence, but what you’re actually doing is:
- Obsessing over the correct font for your grocery list.
- Spending 45 minutes “setting the mood” for writing and zero minutes actually writing.
- Saying, “I’ll start when it’s the right time,” which is basically code for “never.”
Let’s be clear: perfectionism isn’t about high standards.
It’s about not starting until success is guaranteed, which it never is.
So you wait.
And plan.
And research.
Until your “project” becomes a Pinterest board and a stack of blank notebooks.
The Beautiful Trap of “Busy but Not Productive”
Let’s talk about the most dangerous phrase in a perfectionist’s vocabulary: “I’m working on it.”
Are you, though?
Because if “working on it” means:
- Color-coding your writing schedule with glitter gel pens
- Rewatching YouTube videos about time management
- Rearranging your desk so it looks like a productivity shrine…
You’re not working.
You’re performing productivity. (And you deserve an Oscar.)
Perfectionism loves this kind of theater.
It gives the illusion of progress while keeping you perfectly stuck.
The Anatomy of a Perfectionist Procrastination Spiral
Here’s how a simple task becomes a spiral of doom:
- Brilliant Idea Strikes! You are a genius. This is your moment.
- Let’s Research First: You Google “how to write a book,” fall into a Wikipedia rabbit hole, and emerge two hours later with unrelated facts about axolotls.
- Let’s Make a Plan: You create a new Trello board, buy a planner, label tabs, and spend a week building a content calendar… but still haven’t written a single paragraph.
- Imposter Syndrome Attacks: “Who do I think I am? What if this is terrible? What if I accidentally reinvent the plot of Twilight but with less sparkle?”
- Snack Break/Nap/Cleaning Frenzy: Because cleaning the entire kitchen is somehow less stressful than writing a draft.
- The Classic Lie: “I’ll start tomorrow.”
- Repeat Until Soul Is Formatted in Comic Sans.
Why Your Brain Thinks Perfect = Safe (and Why It’s Wrong)
Here’s the thing: your brain is not trying to ruin your life. It thinks it’s protecting you.
To your brain, doing something imperfectly equals vulnerability.
Vulnerability equals danger.
So it says, “Let’s just not do this until we know for sure it’ll be amazing.”
Your inner critic gets louder.
You freeze.
You avoid.
You wonder why you’re so tired all the time.
Spoiler alert: you’re exhausted because you’re carrying the mental load of a hundred unfinished things.
That’s not a lack of motivation—it’s a case of chronic mental tab overload.
Why Done Is Always Better Than Perfect (Yes, Always)
You know what’s better than a perfect idea?
A finished one.
You can’t revise a blank page.
You can’t launch a product that’s still in your brain.
You can’t change the world if your work is stuck in “draft mode.”
Your goal isn’t perfection. Your goal is progress.
That one sentence you’re afraid to write? Write it badly.
That blog post you’ve been editing for three months? Hit publish.
That course you want to build? Build the outline. Then keep going.
Imperfect work can be improved. Nonexistent work cannot.
7 Surprisingly Effective Ways to Outrun Perfectionism
Let’s get practical. You don’t need magic. You just need momentum.
1. Set a “Good Enough” Timer
Write for 20 minutes. No editing. No deleting. No Googling. Just go.
2. Write the Worst Sentence on Purpose
Try this: “The moon was like a big cheese in the sky, only sadder.”
See? The world didn’t end. And now you’ve started.
3. Use Ugly Tools
Stop waiting for the “right” app or fancy pen. Use what’s in front of you—even if it’s a napkin and a crayon.
4. Make It a Game
Set a silly reward: 300 words = a cookie. 1 paragraph = TikTok break.
Bribery works.
Ask any toddler.
5. Limit Planning to 10 Minutes
You don’t need a 37-point roadmap. You need to begin. Sketch it. Start it. Adjust as you go.
6. Write in the Middle
Can’t write the intro? Start with the juicy part. No one said you have to write in order.
7. Adopt a New Motto
Tattoo this on your brain:
“Done is better than perfect.”
Frame it.
Chant it.
The First Pancake Principle
You know how the first pancake is always weird? Lopsided, uneven, suspiciously raw on one side?
But you don’t stop cooking.
You flip it.
You eat it.
You make another one—better this time.
Writing (and creating anything) is just like that.
Your first try will be wobbly.
Maybe weird.
Probably messy.
But you keep going.
Because the second one’s better.
And the third one? Might just be genius.
You’re Allowed to Start Ugly
If perfectionism is the thing standing between you and finishing your dream project, I have good news!
You don’t have to defeat it forever.
You just have to move past it right now.
One sentence. One paragraph. One messy, imperfect attempt at momentum.
You don’t need to be ready.
You don’t need to be confident.
You just need to start.
Now close that font settings tab, ignore your inner editor, and go write something real.
We’ll fix the commas later.
Do you have a project you want to finish (or even start) but keep putting it off (that’s procrastination)? Message me on LinkedIn or through my website at KellieCraft.com.
For more information on how to beat perfectionism, procrastination, and overthinking, grab a copy of my book!
To learn more about me, visit my About page.
The “Done is Better than Perfect” mug is a real thing! Get one today!
“The Imperfect Survival Guide” is a trademark of Kellie Craft and Frog Communications, LLC.
Photo by Bruno Kelzer on Unsplash