Talk to someone about your tendencies, and be honest and open. 

Make it clear that you want to hear how you come across.  “Say, ‘I may get defensive, but I promise to think about what you say.’” And be sure to make good on that pledge.

Create a checklist for each task to know when it will be done independently of your satisfaction level.

“You’re following a process with discrete and measurable goals,”. Once you’ve ticked off the items on your list, “you’re done.”

Many perfectionists worry that if they let go of their [meticulousness and conscientiousness], it will hurt their performance and standing. And so they cling to their perfectionism even when it’s counterproductive.

Undertake a weekly review, in which you reflect on your progress.

Try to get some psychological distance and ask yourself: “Was there anything I avoided this week due to fear of making mistakes? Were there any instances where my perfectionism was not worth ...

Managing your perfectionism also requires you to calibrate your standards.

Ask always for feedback from others on your work to see if it is good enough from their perspective and adjust your own standards.

“What you’re saying doesn’t have to be the final word, it just has to co...

“Ask yourself: Am I using my time wisely? Am I being productive?” focusing on “maximizing the impact” of your work.

You’re going to be “less perfect about some things, so you can concentrate on what’s important.”

1. Mistake ruminating for problem-solving. When your mind is twisting and turning, seek out distractions to break the cycle.
2. Toil in pursuit of an amorphous goal of perfection. Create a checklist that ensures you follow a process with measurable targets.
3. Go it alone. Ask others ...

Perfectionism is a double-edged sword. It can motivate you to perform at a high level and deliver top-quality work as it can cause you unnecessary anxiety and slow you down. So how you can harness the positives of your perfectionism w...

Many perfectionists have a proclivity to ruminate — repetitively mulling over a thought or problem without ever coming to a resolution. “It’s related to anxiety,”

People who ruminate tend to be “less forgiving of...