I was thinking back on the week while sitting at my desk this morning. It was still dark out and I was enjoying some quiet time before the rest of the world woke up. Leaning back in my chair, I was struck by a thought: I had a lot on my plate this week, and somehow managed to fit most of it in. Sipping my coffee, I thought about how that wouldn't have been the case a few years ago.
Crossing that much off of my to-do list was proof I've made progress on one of the biggest challenges I've faced. I've become ok with "good enough."
Function over perfection is really the art of learning when to stop. It's about knowing when something is complete enough to serve its purpose. You can add the bells and whistles later. But what gets rewarded gets reinforced. So if you prioritize perfection, and keep getting praised for it, you're teaching yourself that things aren't good enough... even when they probably are.
When you're starting something new, praising your effort is often more helpful than focusing on outcomes. Did you show up? Because that's the part worth praising. Keep doing it, and you will absolutely complete what you'd set out to. You'll get more effective as you go, and become more efficient as a byproduct.
“Focus on what you’ve already completed, not just what’s left to complete. Keep a “done list” to create a visible pile of your success”
- Oliver Burkeman
onward.
-dmac