Inspired by NaBloPoMo writing prompt for Monday, January 27, 2014:
What puts more pressure on you: time constraints or achieving perfection?
Those who know me well probably won’t be too surprised to read this, but I’d have to say that while both time constraints and achieving perfection are pressure-causing situations, the quest for perfection tends to be a bit more of an issue for me.
Time constraints are frustrating, certainly… but I take the attitude that I can only do what I can do in the time available, and that’s going to have to be good enough.
But when I have time, that’s when the pressure to achieve perfection starts ramping up. When the clock isn’t ticking there is time for edits, and re-dos, and giving it another shot to make it better. When I’m not worried about a deadline, I can keep poking away at finessing something that’s probably good enough already… but not quite perfect. When I don’t have to have something right away I can spend hours searching every store available for exactly what I want, never settling for second-best (ask my husband about my “thing” for the perfect purse, wallet, and (now) Filofax. I’ve learned to go shopping for such items alone!).
Yeah, I should probably learn to relax a little. But it’s so very satisfying when something comes together just so, that I’m pretty sure I’ll continue to deal with the self-imposed pressure caused by the search for perfection.
How about you?
Are you more pressured by time constraints or a need for perfection?
Please share!
