Imperfectionism
The Antidote to Perfectionism
Ever feel like your to-do list is actively mocking you? Like it's sitting there smugly, knowing full well you won’t start anything unless you can do it flawlessly—with perfect lighting, ideal conditions, and precisely zero distractions?
Yeah, me too. There’s a long list of things I should be doing, but my brain? Fully on strike.
If you’ve ever been stuck in a perfectionist spiral where nothing feels “good enough” to begin, especially if your neurospicy brain loves high standards but hates actually starting, this one’s for you.
Today, perfectionism is the villain. Perfectionism, especially in undiagnosed ADHD (hello ladies and non men!), is a sneaky little saboteur. But don’t worry—we’ve got an unlikely hero coming to the rescue: imperfectionism. And no, it’s not about giving up. It’s about getting unstuck.
Let’s dig into a book that helped me out of the muck this week: How to Be an Imperfectionist by Stephen Guise. Because sometimes “just do it badly” is the most productive advice you’ll ever get.
What is Imperfectionism?
Perfectionism has an insane PR team. It gets praised as “high standards” or “attention to detail.” But those of us who are neurospicy know the truth: perfectionism is freaking exhausting. It’s a barrier to action, to joy, to basic functioning.
Most advice out there boils down to “Just stop being a perfectionist!”—which is about as useful as telling someone with insomnia to “Just go to sleep.” One day I hope there will be a book filled with neurodivergent advice that may be helpful for us.
Until then, Guise offers a different approach. Instead of trying to kill perfectionism with willpower – a very neurotypical solution – he introduces a mindset called imperfectionism.
At its core, imperfectionism is about valuing progress over perfection. It’s not about being careless or doing a bad job. It’s about taking imperfect action instead of waiting for the stars to align and the motivation fairies to descend.
Imperfectionist Approaches
The book is packed with practical strategies, but here are a few of my favorites—the ones I actually use in real life, on real “I can’t even” days.
Do It Poorly on Purpose
Yep, this one sounds bananas. But hear me out.
Doing something badly—on purpose—bypasses the paralysis that perfectionism creates. When the pressure to do it “right” is gone, your brain can finally start.
Start with low-stakes stuff. Write a hilariously terrible draft of your project. Doodle a weird little creature. Send a sloppy text to a friend. It doesn’t matter what it looks like—what matters is that you’re in motion.
Remember: messy action is infinitely better than stuck perfection.
Micro Actions (aka Chunk It Down)
This one might sound familiar. Micro actions—also known as “chunking”—are all about breaking tasks into manageable little pieces.
Instead of “clean the whole kitchen,” start with “take the dishes on the table and put them in the sink.”
Instead of “revise the whole essay,” try “revise the first section.”
Small wins build momentum. And when you’re overwhelmed, momentum is pure magic. You will be surprised how micro actions build on each other to create meaningful progress.
Set Your Floor and Ceiling
We all have a floor and a ceiling. The floor is the bare minimum we need for success or happiness, and the ceiling is the dream outcome. Most people operate somewhere in between with enough space to move comfortably.
Perfectionists, though? We tend to turn the ceiling into the floor. Suddenly, only flawless counts. Anything less is a failure. Only the ceiling is acceptable.
That’s not just unrealistic—it’s unsustainable.
Instead, ask: What would “good enough” look like? What’s the actual minimum I need to feel okay about this task?
Once you define your floor, you can move freely between that and your dream outcome, without the pressure of constant excellence.
Care Less (or Shift What You Care About)
I know. It sounds impossible. If we could just “care less,” we would’ve done that by now, right?
So here’s a reframe: Instead of “care less,” shift what you care about.
Care less about outcomes, and more about effort.
Care less about what other people expect, and more about what you need.
Care less about doing it perfectly, and more about getting it done.
Care less about obstacles, and more about progress.
It’s not about apathy. It’s about choosing where your energy goes. You get to decide what you focus on. Why not focus on things that move us forward instead of holding us back?
Mini Goals (My Personal Favorite)
Big goals are great... until they become Big Blocks.
For example, I have always wanted to write a book. I haven’t gotten there yet, but I am working on it. I’ve tried setting big word count goals for writing, or ambitious hour-per-day targets, and they always start out great. Spoiler: I burn out fast and spent the rest of the time feeling like a failure.
What works for me is mini goals. Goals so small, they’re almost laughable.
Write one sentence.
Write for ten minutes.
Jot down one idea, no matter how amorphous it is.
When I hit my mini goal, I feel accomplished. And guess what? I usually keep going. Because I’m not fighting against the pressure—I’m enjoying the process. Once I hit the goal, the rest is just for me.
Tiny goals = guilt-free momentum.
To Sum It Up...
Perfectionism is a trap. It steals your time, your energy, and your joy. But imperfectionism? That’s the key to movement and action.
You deserve to live in the wide, comfortable space between “barely good enough” and “best-case scenario.” That’s where real progress happens. That’s where peace lives.
You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re doing great.
Let’s Talk About It
What books have helped you deal with perfectionism or neurodivergence? Drop your favorites in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s worked for you.
Got a topic you want me to tackle next? Message me! I’m all ears (and some spicy brain cells), and I want to keep making content that helps us heal, laugh, and thrive.
You are doing great!