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Messy Perfectionist

A post over at Home Sanctuary really resonated with me this week. Rachel Anne talks about how perfection can stop you from actually doing anything:

“perfectionists like to do things the Right Way.  We know how things should be done. We know that we should scrub the grout with a toothbrush and bleach whenever we clean the shower.  We know that the insides of garbage cans should be disinfected.  We know the blinds need to be dusted slat by slat. We see the filth and the grime and the clutter….and feel powerless to do anything about it because it would take 10 lifetimes to take care of things the Right Way. So we get bogged down in inertia instead, and spend a lot of time thinking “I should be better than this. Why can’t I get it together??” ”

Click here to read the full article. I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately, feeling overwhelmed with things to do and just how out of control I feel. As with anything, just doing something is the important thing, and then try not to get bogged down in the detail. It doesn’t just happen with cleaning for me– check out this post of mine on perfection-induced craft paralysis!

Have you been in a rut? Do you suffer from messy perfectionism?

P.S. Home Sanctuary is a lovely blog, sharing a daily Small Thing to do to make your house a sanctuary.  Each activity takes just a few minutes, but can have big impact on your home. Rachel Anne shares her experiences in the blog and there are fun prizes each month for completing the tasks.

4 Comments

  1. Yes I can relate to the perfection induced paralysis. Sometimes I consider a project for ages before I start because I think I won’t get it quite “right”. I’ve gotta just take the plunge more!

  2. I used to be a perfectionist until I lost my son. Now, I know that a little dust doesnt make a bad homemaker, dirty dishes doesn’t stop the world from spinning, and crafting is supposed to be fun!! Stop taking yourself so seriously or you will miss the small important things in life,unexpected smiles, laughter, messy hugs and kisses. Roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and if something you do isnt perfect, who are you disapointing? Seriously,who?

  3. Oh my gosh, that paragraph is so true, and so me!! I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels like that. I thought I must be the worst Virgo in the world! I want my house to be clean and tidy and organised, but to do it properly would take hours/days/weeks, so I just suffer in the chaos.

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