Three Activities for Artists to Help Overcome Perfectionism

“Here is my very, very rough draft,” I have said many times before, as if my first draft is the only one on Earth that is less than perfect. I always felt the need to warn my teachers and peers that something wasn’t finished because I wasn’t satisfied with it.

If you’re anything like me, you set high standards for yourself, and when you can’t reach them, you feel like a failure. Your tendency to spend hours perfecting the same sentence, brush stroke, or camera angle hinders you from moving on to the next part of your creation. You feel trapped.

Well, I could just slap an inspirational quote on this post and tell you that your work is wonderful just the way it is. However, chances are that you’d still hyperfocus on your mistakes the next time you start your project. This is why I created a list of activities to help overcome perfectionism. I can’t promise that you’ll never feel discouraged again after putting them into practice, but they have helped me let go of my perfectionist tendencies. Maybe they can help you, too. If perfectionism is something you struggle with, here are some ideas to help you overcome it.

1. Create an “Almost Book”

About two weeks ago, I shared one of my poems, “Almost Poetry”, in which I mention a section in my Notes app called “Writing Notes.” I do indeed have this section, and it is filled with more than forty pages of ideas that I jot down throughout the week. It’s messy, and if a stranger read it, they’d probably ask me if I’m okay. But that’s the point; it’s a place for me to put down my incomplete thoughts. I never go back to edit it because no one but me will read it. There are plenty of tacky passages that make me cringe when I read them, but the works I am most proud of also began there. It’s a space only I have access to, and it gives me room to create without worrying about how good my work is.

If you don’t already have something like this, I encourage you to make an “almost book” of your own and fill it with all of your scattered thoughts and inspirations. You can use a small journal, a sketchbook, a binder, or an app on your computer or phone. It doesn’t matter how you store it. Just make it a place for all of your fresh, crazy, and wonderful ideas.

2. Try a New Medium of Art

Burnout is real, and sometimes, the more tired we get, the harder we are on ourselves and our work. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is take a step back. A couple of months ago, I picked up a paintbrush, found some old acrylic paint, and got to work. Keep in mind, I’m terrible at painting and rarely ever partake in this art form. Still, I decided to give it another try. This time, I told myself not to worry about how well it looks. I just had fun and made something new. This reminded me that art is a process filled with trial and error. It also takes years to learn and improve your craft. Even bestselling authors, renowned painters, and established photographers make mistakes and have a lot to learn.

I highly recommend trying a new art form to gain some perspective on art as a whole. Allow yourself to get messy, make mistakes, have fun, and grow. If you’re not sure where to start, here is a short and broad list of different art forms:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Writing poems/stories/songs
• Dancing
• Photography
• Sculpting

The list goes on and on. If you have any artistic activities you’d like to add to this list, be sure to share them in the comments below!

3. Spend Time in Nature

I’ve shared this before, but I’m going to discuss it again: spending time in nature can strengthen creativity. Breathe in the fresh air and immerse yourself in sunshine. Listen to the crunch of snow underneath your feet in the winter, and smell wildflowers in the spring. Let your mind wander and refresh. I’ve found that the days I take a fifteen-minute walk in the morning, I am more productive and feel less discouraged about myself and my work.

4. Bonus Tip: Turn off Grammarly and Other Spell-Checkers

Lastly, I want to share a tip for all of the writers reading this. When you sit down to write the first draft of your work, turn off all of your grammar-checking tools, like Grammarly. I know these tools can be helpful, but they will only slow you down when writing your first draft and likely make you more anxious about your grammar and sentence structures. When I stopped using these tools while writing my first drafts, I finished my projects much more quickly. Remember that spending time on your first draft isn’t about checking for typos and grammar errors; it’s about getting your thoughts and ideas on paper.

Conclusion

Don’t let your perfectionism stop you from creating. Whether you’re a photographer, painter, writer, or musician, remember that your work matters.

I hope this post gave you some helpful tips and tricks. As always, I love hearing from you, so be sure to let me know what kind of artist you are! How do you keep creating when you feel discouraged and overwhelmed? What is the best piece of advice from and/or for artists you’ve ever heard?