Words Amy Joy Mistal, SOUL EASE Professional Organizing
Have you ever found yourself caught in the exhausting hamster wheel of perfection? Spending hours perfecting every last detail, only to fall behind on your to-do list?
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. For busy homeowners, moms juggling countless tasks, and seniors managing a lifetime of belongings, the pursuit of perfection often does more harm than good.
But here’s the silver lining: letting go of perfection doesn’t mean settling for less. It means adopting a mindset of “good enough to move on.” This approach allows you to complete tasks efficiently, reduce stress, and ultimately accomplish more in your daily life.
Why “Good Enough” Matters
The idea behind “good enough to move on” is simple yet profound. Instead of obsessing over every minuscule detail, aim to finish tasks to an acceptable standard and move forward. This shift in mindset helps you:
- Work at a faster, more sustainable pace
- Allocate your time to more pressing priorities
- Reduce the stress and frustration caused by perfectionism
- Make no mistake – this isn’t about cutting corners or delivering sloppy work. It’s about recognizing when additional effort won’t yield enough benefit to justify the time spent. After all, in most cases, “perfect” is unattainable, and striving for it can lead to procrastination or stalling progress entirely.
Real-Life Examples of “Good Enough”
Curious what this looks like in practice? Here are a few real-life situations where “good enough” can save the day:
1. Laundry
Imagine you’ve managed to wash the kids’ mountain of laundry. The clothes are clean and ready to wear. Is it necessary to fold every shirt and sort every sock right away, or can that wait? For now, clean clothes are good enough, and you can move on to preparing dinner or helping
with homework.
2. Overfilled Bookshelf
Your bookshelf is overflowing with books, magazines and trinkets. You’ve managed to remove a handful of items and rearrange the rest so that everything fits neatly – though it may not be perfectly alphabetized or curated just yet. Is the shelf a masterpiece of organization? Not quite, but it’s good enough for now. Enjoy the clearer space and tackle more detailed sorting another day when you’re ready.
3. Relocated Clutter
You’ve taken all the stray items scattered around your home – shoes in the living room, paperwork on the kitchen table, toys in the hallway—and returned them to their proper rooms. Maybe the cabinets, drawers, or closets where they belong aren’t perfectly organized yet, and you haven’t labeled or arranged anything in detail. But for now, everything is in the right place. The rooms feel tidier, and the mess is no longer overwhelming. When you have more time, you can focus on fine-tuning those spaces with better organization and labeling. For now, it’s good enough to move on.
How to Define “Good Enough”
Wondering how to determine when something is “good enough”? Here are three tips:
1. Set Clear Standards
Before starting a task, define what success looks like. For example, if you’re cleaning the house before guests arrive, focus on creating a welcoming space rather than perfection in every room.
2. Keep Perspective
Consider the purpose of the task. Will anyone notice or care if a minor detail is slightly off? If not, don’t sweat it.
3. Resist the Urge to Tinker
Once a task meets your pre-defined standard, stop. Resist going back to add extra polish unless truly necessary. Remember, perfectionism can often be a form of procrastination in disguise.
When to Avoid “Good Enough”
Of course, there are moments when “good enough” isn’t appropriate. Certain tasks – like medical procedures, legal agreements, or engineering projects – require precision and thoroughness. However, for the everyday chores and responsibilities that make up most of your day, adopting a “good enough” mindset can significantly reduce stress and boost productivity.
Progress Over Perfection
The “good enough to move on” philosophy is more than just a productivity hack – it’s a way to reclaim control and focus on what truly matters. By letting go of perfectionism, you’ll not only get more done, but you’ll also find more joy and balance in your daily life.
Start adopting this mindset today. Whether it’s clean (but unfolded) laundry or a semi-organized counter, every task completed is a step closer to achieving your goals. Progress, not perfection, is the ultimate win!
For more information, visit www.amyjoymistal.com.
