What Is Perfectionism?

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Some people wrongly label self-care as lazy or selfish, but it is really essential to our well-being.

Perfectionists tend to struggle, because they feel guilty about taking time to care for themselves.

Balanced living is key to meeting our physical and emotional needs.

Perfectionists are often more concerned with goals and accomplishments than with their own well-being. Sometimes, we’re so busy trying to please people, avoid criticism, and prove we’re “good enough” that we don’t even realize the toll it’s taking on our mental and physical health.

Are You a Perfectionist?

Perfectionists have impossibly high standards for themselves—and sometimes for others, too. We expect ourselves to excel at everything, achieve our goals effortlessly, and always be agreeable. We derive our self-worth from our accomplishments, which means we’re constantly correcting and perfecting, seeking validation, and trying to prove our worth. It’s a stressful way to live.

How Perfectionism Gets in the Way of Self-Care

Self-care can reduce the effects of stress and prevent perfectionism from harming our physical and mental health. But as perfectionists, we often feel guilty about doing things for ourselves—especially anything that isn’t directly tied to achieving a goal, meeting expectations, or getting more done.

Self-care doesn’t fit our image of perfection. We imagine perfect people as self-sacrificing,........

© Psychology Today