How to Stop Waiting for ‘Perfect’ and Start Moving

Have you ever delayed starting or finishing something because it didn’t feel perfect yet? If so, you’ve experienced perfectionism procrastination—one of the most paralyzing forms of delay. While reaching for excellence is a good thing, perfectionism takes it too far, trapping us in a cycle of endless tweaking, self-doubt, and avoidance.

What Is Perfectionism Procrastination?

Perfectionism procrastination isn’t about laziness. It’s about fear: fear of making mistakes, fear of being judged, or fear of not measuring up. As Brené Brown puts it: “Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be your best. Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame.”

In other words, perfectionism isn’t about doing better—it’s about avoiding vulnerability. And in the process, it often keeps us from doing anything at all.

Why Perfectionism Holds You Back

Perfectionism procrastination creates a false dichotomy: either you do something perfectly, or you don’t do it at all. This all-or-nothing thinking leads to paralysis. Instead of taking imperfect action and making progress, you wait for the “right” time, the “right” tools, or the “right” circumstances—none of which ever arrive.

Here’s the truth: Perfection isn’t achievable. But progress is. And progress only happens when you’re willing to take action, even if it’s messy, imperfect, or incomplete.

Strategies to Overcome Perfectionism Procrastination

1. Identify Unrealistic Expectations

Perfectionism often comes from unrealistic expectations, whether they’re self-imposed or absorbed from others. Ask yourself:

• What standards am I holding myself to right now?
• Are these standards realistic, or could I cut them down by 50%?
• What’s one weakness I can admit and embrace in this situation?

By naming and challenging your expectations, you can free yourself to take action without the pressure to be flawless.

2. Create an Anti-Perfectionism Mantra

A mantra is a short phrase that helps reframe your mindset. When perfectionism strikes, remind yourself:

• “Anything worth doing is worth doing imperfectly.”
• “I’m not perfect, but I’m growing.”
• “God has never been mad about me doing my best.”
• “There’s a crack in everything—that’s how the light gets in.” (Leonard Cohen)

Use your mantra to counteract the inner critic and give yourself permission to start.

3. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Instead of aiming for a flawless result, aim for measurable progress. Break your task into smaller, achievable steps, and celebrate each one you complete. For example:

• Instead of “write the perfect sermon,” start with “write the opening paragraph.”
• Instead of “organize the entire church event,” begin with “make a list of volunteers.”

Each small step moves you closer to your goal, even if it’s not perfect.

4. Recognize False Dichotomies

Perfectionism thrives on either-or thinking: either I’m the best at this, or I’m a failure. Recognize when you’re falling into this trap and challenge it. Ask yourself:

• What’s a third option that allows me to take imperfect action?

For example:

• Instead of “Either I preach the perfect sermon, or I’ll ruin the message,” reframe it: “I’ll prepare the best I can and trust God to use my efforts.”

5. Practice Letting Go

Sometimes, perfectionism is about control—the need to control outcomes, perceptions, or results. But real growth comes from letting go. Practice releasing your grip by saying:

• “I’ve done my best. That’s enough.”
• “This doesn’t have to be perfect to be valuable.”

Letting go doesn’t mean lowering your standards. You can still develop good habits, and strive for excellence. It means trusting that your imperfect efforts are enough to make a difference.

What’s Your Next Imperfect Action?

Overcoming perfectionism procrastination isn’t about becoming careless—it’s about becoming courageous. Courageous enough to take action, make mistakes, and keep moving forward.

Take a moment to think about a task you’ve been avoiding because it doesn’t feel perfect yet. What’s one small, imperfect action you can take today to move it forward? Write it down—and then do it.

Action Step: Share in the comments or with a friend: What’s one task you’ve been procrastinating because of perfectionism? What’s one imperfect step you can take to make progress today?

All the Types of Procrastination:

In this series on different types of procrastination, here are 6 types we’ll explore:

1. Fearful Procrastination – Driven by fear of failure, success, or others’ opinions.
2. Uncertain Procrastination – Caused by lack of clarity about what to do next.
3. Perfectionism Procrastination – Delaying because you feel you can’t do it perfectly.
4. Wisdom Procrastination – Resistance to tasks that don’t align with your skills or passions.
5. Control Procrastination – Putting off tasks as a form of rebellion against external expectations.
6. Lazy Procrastination – When you just don’t want to do the work.