I used to be a perfectionist, but that led me to become half-hearted in everything I did. An example is my skincare routine, which I have been trying to cultivate a habit for the longest time.
Since beginning a simpler life, I have realised why it was so difficult to cultivate the habit, because my perfectionist mindset saw it as all or nothing. It’s either I complete the full routine or don’t do it at all. There will definitely be days when we feel off, tired, or just unmotivated. On those days, doing part of the routine would have been enough, but that wasn’t my thinking then.
Another example is my planner. I’ve tried everything, from bullet journaling to pre-made layouts and digital planners. No matter the system, I always felt pressure to keep up with it. My perfectionist mindset couldn’t make any mistakes. Drawing wrongly or crossing something out felt like ruining the entire page. As for digital planners, I was too obsessed about the alignment. Every line had to be evenly spaced and every font perfectly uniform in size. There was no flexibility, just the need for everything to look perfect.
It wasn’t until I embraced a simpler lifestyle that I changed my mindset about perfectionism. Simplicity isn’t just about having less things, it’s also a mindset. So here’s how simplicity helped me let go of perfectionism.
Focusing On My Values
In my previous post on, 5 Ways to Embrace Simplicity, one of the ways is to Live In Alignment With Your Values. For me, my values are happiness and health, but chasing perfection came with the expense of sacrificing my happiness and health.
Happiness isn’t about grand achievements. It’s about feeling content, peaceful, and aligned with how I want to live. Health isn’t just physical, it’s also emotional and mental. It’s about reducing stress, and treating myself with kindness. When I center my life around these values, I also release the pressure to be perfect.
Adopting the Just Do Mindset
There is a saying, “a small step can go a long way“. Doing something small gets you farther than waiting for the perfect moment to do it all. Even if I can only do something partially, it will benefit in the long run. Progress doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful.
Lower Expectations
Simplicity helps lower expectations by encouraging a shift in perspective. When I made the intentional choice to live more simply, I began to redefine what I expected from myself. Simplicity helped me let go the pressure to do everything flawlessly, and I started embracing imperfection. I don’t waste unnecessary energy on obsessing over the smallest details or trying to polish every task to perfection.
Using Affirmations and Mantras
I love affirmations and mantras. They act as calming reminders of what truly matters, and can be repeated during moments of stress, indecision, or self-doubt. It takes time to fully let go of the perfectionist mindset, so sometimes I still find myself obsessing over the smallest details. When that happens, a simple affirmation or mantra can bring me back to my new values and expectations.
Slow Down and Be Present
Another way, as mentioned in my previous post, on ways to embrace simplicity, is to slow down and be present. When I am doing things at a more relaxed pace, I become fully present with what I am doing, instead of being on autopilot.
That sense of awareness helps me catch myself when I start obsessing over the smallest details or trying to be perfect. In those moments, I can pause and remind myself of my new values and expectations, through affirmations or mantras.
Simplicity pulled me away from perfectionism. It reminded me that life isn’t a performance, but a journey. The more I let go of the need to control or perfect every detail, the more peace and happiness I find. I don’t have to do it all and I don’t have to do it perfectly.