Am I a perfectionist?

High standards can help you do good work. Perfectionism is when the bar is so high that nothing feels good enough, and mistakes feel like failures. Tick the signs that fit you. The list is drawn from Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic Health System and the American Psychological Association.

Just for reflection and learning — not a test or a diagnosis.

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Common questions

What are the signs of perfectionism?

Common signs include very high standards, harsh self-criticism, dwelling on small mistakes, putting things off for fear of not doing them perfectly, all-or-nothing effort, and a fear of not being good enough.

Is perfectionism a good thing?

High standards and ambition can help. But when perfectionism brings constant self-criticism and fear of failure, it can lead to stress, procrastination and trouble relaxing, and it is linked with depression and anxiety.

How can I be less of a perfectionist?

Set realistic deadlines, decide which tasks only need to be done well enough, remember mistakes you have survived, talk about struggles as well as successes, and practice doing small things imperfectly on purpose.