Pros and Cons of Being a Perfectionist
Perfectionism may make us feel important but can cause psychological distress. Perfectionists often have unrealistic expectations, and these are unachievable. In addition to psychological distress, perfectionism may negatively impact our quality of life.
Contents
Importance
If you have a perfectionist in your team, you must take some steps to manage them better. First, you should avoid downgrading their work or making them feel inferior. Instead, you should acknowledge the consequences of their over-zealousness and help them set rejuvenating goals that will help mitigate their stress levels and avoid burnout. Also, it would be best to communicate your expectations and tolerance for mistakes.
One of the most difficult challenges for perfectionists is recognizing their need to make changes. It is essential to understand that we all make mistakes, which is why we must take responsibility for them. We cannot make the necessary changes if we do not recognize them. By recognizing our flaws, we can learn to appreciate our strengths and improve areas for development.
Importance of quality of life
A perfectionist is someone who seeks perfection. They tend to fixate on flaws, constantly monitor and control their surroundings and criticize others. For instance, visit sites like https://www.privatetherapy.com/services/perfectionism/ to know how perfectionism affects the quality of life and identify ways to moderate this trait.
A perfectionist’s pursuit of perfection may make it difficult to relax or take time for spontaneous activities. Instead, they often prefer to focus and follow rigid plans, even though relaxation and spontaneity can enhance productivity and well-being.
More relaxed people tend to control their perfectionism, taking regular breaks at work and switching off more easily.
Perfectionists are more likely to have high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems than those without this trait. They also have a more challenging time coping with physical ailments. As a result, they are more likely to develop heart attacks, ulcerative colitis, and diabetes, leading to a higher risk of death.
Psychological distress
Psychological distress from being a perfectionist can take many forms, but the common thread is anxiety. Perfectionism is often accompanied by fear, and this stress reflects a disordered inner self. It may be triggered by specific events or can develop due to unknown sources.
Perfectionism is a severe mental illness. Physical disorders like cardiovascular disease may result from it.
Additionally, it might cause despair and even thoughts of suicide. According to studies, perfectionists are more prone to develop diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and heart disease. These circumstances can contribute to feelings of loneliness and depression.
While perfectionism isn’t usually regarded as a cause for concern, increasing evidence suggests that it can lead to enormous emotional suffering. It is a symptom of many anxiety disorders and is associated with many seemingly benign self-destructive behaviors, including overt self-mutilation and suicide.
Importance of the job
While perfectionism benefits some people, it can also negatively impact the workplace and personal life. People who are too perfect may miss deadlines, let things fall through the cracks, and feel stressed and overwhelmed. Understanding the negative impact of perfectionism can help you approach your work differently.
Those who are perfectionists tend to check their work many times. However, this can result in slowing down the entire team’s productivity. For this reason, setting time limits for each task is essential.