How to Deal With Perfectionism as a Creator

Do you ever struggle to figure out what to post online? You want to share the most perfect post. After spending time writing a good article or taking a good photo, you can't seem to get it right.

Perfectionism can seem like a good thing. You get to put out your best work, right?

Here's the thing: perfectionism isn't as good as it seems. If you can't seem to get a project the exact way you want, you may not want to release it.

You could spend hours, days, weeks, working on something. Only to hate the way it ends up.

So what does this mean as a creator?

The Original Meaning of "Perfect"

Words change over time. Specifically, the way we use words changes. My favorite example of this is the word "perfect."

It comes from the prefix "per" and the Latin word "facere."

Facere means "to do completely."

When you think of it that way, "perfect" just means to get something done. Not to do it in a way that's flawless.

Using This as a Creator

Whenever you go to create something, whether it's a blog post, an Instagram post, or a YouTube video, it doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to get done and available to the world.

Of course, you should aim to do well in whatever you create. You don't want to post something that you aren't proud of.

But if you struggle to post anything. If you feel like nothing you create is good enough, you'll never be happy with your work.

Sometimes, you just have to finish a project and post it. You can't dwell on the imperfections of what you create.

Practice Makes Perfect?

The more you create (and the more you post), the better you'll get at whatever you create. With each picture you take, the next one will be of higher quality.

As you write more blog posts, your writing will improve. And after you start making and editing videos, you'll know how to make that content better.

It's easy to compare your first few pieces of content to someone who's done the thing for years. But when I look at some of my first blog posts, I cringe.

I know that i've improve my writing a lot over the past eight years. Practice may not make "perfect" the way we understand the word. But when you think about that original meaning, practice will help you get things done.

Keep At It

No matter what type of content you like to create, you have to do it. Even when you don't think you can do a good job. And even if you don't love the result of your work, you may have to post it.

Once you do, you might receive good feedback. Other people may enjoy the content you create a lot more than you think.

But you wouldn't know that without posting anything online. Sure, there are times when you want to save your work for yourself. Eventually, you'll want to post something, though.

(Writer's note: this section doesn't feel perfect, but I'm keeping it in. You have to post content that you don't love sometimes.)

Where to Go From Here

If you're a creator, it can be easy to feel like your work isn't good. Comparing yourself to others is as easy as browsing Instagram, YouTube, or different blog platforms.

But not all of your work is going to be good. You'll have good days and bad days, good posts and bad posts.

That's just the cycle of content creation. The more you keep up with your work, the better you'll get. And the easier it will be to post something.