9 Behavioral Clues That Suggest You’re a Perfectionist

I used to think being a perfectionist was great — something to be proud of. But I remember I reworked a project and spent hours making it better just because I felt like it wasn’t “good enough.” By the time I was done, I was tired, and it still wasn’t good enough. In hindsight, I know those routines weren’t getting me anywhere – they were keeping me stuck. Maybe you are also a perfectionist if you’ve ever felt this way. Here are 9 habits that might tell you that you’re a perfectionist.

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You Struggle to Start Tasks Unless Conditions Are Perfect

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Do you wait for the “right time” to get started? Perhaps you’re putting it off until you’re completely confident or have everything in order. Perfectionists are hesitant to get started on anything because the thought of doing anything less than perfect is daunting. This wait isn’t procrastination — it’s being afraid of failing right from the start.

You Obsess Over Details

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Hours spent on making little things that no one else would notice? Perfectionists spend their time on the little things, rewriting an email 10 times or changing a project 1000 times. Attention to detail is a gift, but when it becomes an addiction, it keeps you on the back foot.

You Set Unrealistically High Standards

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Are you set on goals so big that they seem impossible? Perfectionists like to chase the wind, to be better, to be higher than anyone can ever dream. Big dreams may inspire, but perfectionism is a way of turning them into endless strain and discontentment, which makes you believe there’s never enough.

You Fear Failure Intensely

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You are a perfectionist if the idea of failure gives you chills. You never try something new or take a chance on anything because the fear of error is just too great. This is not the fear of disappointing someone — it’s the fear of disappointing yourself, even for the slightest error.

You Have Trouble Delegating Tasks

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You think that no one can do something as well as you can? A perfectionist just cannot trust other people to perform at the level of perfection. That control drive can be overworked and exhausting as you do everything yourself, even if you don’t need to.

You’re Your Own Harshest Critic

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Nobody beats you like you do. Perfectionists are terrible critics of themselves, replaying errors over & over and obsessing about what went wrong rather than right. And this constant self-criticism can be inspiring but also exhausting & demoralizing.

You Struggle to Celebrate Achievements

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When you do succeed, do you immediately wonder about what would have been better? Perfectionists tend to gloat over their victories, glossing over the mistakes rather than the successes. And you can’t really be proud when you’re constantly pushing yourself to the limit of being “better.”

You’re Worried About What Other People Will Think of You

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Do you think too much about what other people think of you? Perfectionists worry far too much about being criticized. It will cause you to overprepare or avoid circumstances where you’re likely to be held back by others even if no one is actually criticizing you.

You Burn Out Easily

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Are you always tired, exhausted, or discouraged? Perfectionism requires a lot – physically, mentally, emotionally. This pressure to get it right all the time can be tiring, and it’s hard to keep up or even enjoy the things you once enjoyed.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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