Perfectionism (for me) is a misalignment of my objective and the requirements for success. My solution is to retain my perfectionist drive but alter my objectives to better match the end-goal. This usually requires setting aside time for reflection. I can feel depressed during this process. But, achieving success in the end continues to lead to overall greater pride and happiness
Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
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Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#32I suppose it depends on which part of perfectionism is hurting you. I struggle with starting. I think I can't accomplish the perfect result I envision so I find myself paralyzed and unable to begin. To help with that I remind myself of the Pareto principle. If I can accept that I may get MOST of the way to my goal on the smaller portion of my effort, I can usually get started. The next struggle is finishing things, r…
> I struggle with starting. I think I can't accomplish the perfect result I envision so I find myself paralyzed and unable to begin.
I think you're on a similar note to my thought on this thread. As I've gotten older it's been less about perfectionism as a platonic truth, and more as "the greatest I can be" knowing that it won't be perfect.
That causes other problems, but does including trouble starting and finishing.
So my most recent method is "just read the book." And if I get stuck, to keep reading the book. It's when I put the book down or get stuck the book doesn't get finished. But at least if I finish a book I can always go back, and then I have one more thing accomplished even if it's not 100% and it's better than 10%.
I think "just do the thing" is the best advice I've ever gotten.
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#33Just the realization that whatever you are working on will eventually be replaced and will probably be gone in 25 years. Yes, I'm a Javascript dev.
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#34Try to apply your perfectionism to the meta-game rather than each “move” in your current game. Usually perfectionism is an application of optimization along too few dimensions (quality) rather than actually striving for the big goals.
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#35[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#36I went freelance.
In all seriousness though, shipping in order to eat is an amazing way to learn to balance done with “good enough that I won’t spend the next 3 months fixing bugs”
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#37I had kids.
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#38Set deadlines and just ship it...
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#39By realizing that the programming knowledge is vast.
After realizing this, I realized that I am so far away from perfect. I'll just do my best to make the architecture somewhat future proof without writing unnecessary code.
Re: Ask HN: How did you overcome perfectionism?
#40Perfectionism is just one tool in your toolbox. It can be favorite and strongest tool, but you also have to know when to put it down. It's not a compromise of your ideals to delay the ideal solution, as long as you are being rational about your reasons for doing it.
It's easier for me to put down perfectionism as long as I have a plan, or can see the plan, that I would use to move from the "good" solution to the "perfect" solution. Then I circle back to that plan when the problem needs more attention.