We’ve all been there: staring at a task we should be doing, but putting it off because we don’t have the time, energy, or clarity to do it “right.” Maybe it’s replying to a message, finishing a project, or even folding laundry. If it’s not going to be perfect, what’s the point… right?
Well, according to author and productivity expert Chris Guillebeau, that mindset might be holding us back way more than we realize.
The Truth About Perfectionism
Chris has spent years studying the habits of successful people. What he found while writing his book Time Anxiety is something many of us need to hear: the idea of giving 100% to everything you do might sound noble, but it’s often a recipe for burnout, procrastination, and getting stuck.
“Doing less than you’re capable of might feel wrong,” he explains. “Especially if you were raised to chase good grades or gold stars. But the most successful people? They often choose to do less or just enough and still win.”
You can also read: 16 Game-Changing Habits of Successful Women
His Rule? Do It Badly (Seriously)
Here’s the radical idea Guillebeau promotes:
“It’s better to do it poorly than not at all.”
And honestly? It makes sense.
He suggests we stop waiting for the perfect version of our effort and instead start doing things imperfectly but consistently. Not because we’re lazy. But because we’re human, and because small, imperfect actions build the momentum that perfectionism steals from us.
Here are some real-life examples he shares:
- Schoolwork stressing you out? Lower the bar. Turn in something that’s “meh” and use the extra time to rest or reset. You don’t need A+ work in every subject.
- Apartment a disaster? Set a 10-minute timer. Wipe down the counters, toss the laundry in a basket, and be done. That’s enough.
- Drowning in unread messages? Hit delete. Start fresh. Focus on today’s messages instead of carrying yesterday’s digital guilt.
- Missed a call? No big deal. Send a text. Reconnect when it works. Life happens.
The point isn’t to settle, it’s to start.
You can also check: Printable Habit Tracker: Tips + Free Templates
Imperfection in Action: How Businesses Thrive on “Good Enough”
This principle doesn’t just apply to personal productivity, it’s also how smart entrepreneurs build wildly successful businesses.
Ever heard of a minimum viable product (MVP)? It’s startup-speak for launching a product that’s imperfect but functional. Rather than waiting until something is flawless, founders put out version 1.0, gather feedback, and improve from there.
Why? Because “perfect” often never arrives, and imperfect but done will always outperform perfect but in progress.
So… What’s the Takeaway?
Let’s stop glamorizing perfectionism and start normalizing trying.
The most productive, creative, and fulfilled people aren’t the ones who get it perfect every time, they’re the ones who keep showing up, messy action and all. They give themselves permission to write the draft, send the message, try the thing… even if it’s not ideal.
So next time you’re stuck in perfection-paralysis, ask yourself:
What’s the smallest thing I can do right now to move forward?
Then do just that and let it be enough.
Because “done” will always beat “perfect later.” And every imperfect step forward is still a step in the right direction.
