Beating Perfectionism as a University Student
Written by Julia Yurchesyn
@juliaxemilyy
Thumbnail Photo by Chiang Henry on Unsplash
It’s no secret that university can be stressful with a multitude of essays and assignments due, as well as the pressure of tests and exams looming over our heads. Many times, this stress can be compounded by a feeling of having to do everything as perfectly as possible, with the possibility of not doing well causing great anxiety.
Photo by Chiang Henry on Unsplash
There are many reasons why school can feel like this. Sometimes you need certain marks to keep a scholarship, get a good job after university, or achieve a certain GPA to get into grad school. It could even be about meeting the expectations of family members, or your own high standards.
Whatever the case, it can be difficult to feel at ease about your studies while also spending time and effort to do well. With the pressure to be as productive as possible, adding extracurriculars to your schedule can mean you have less time to rest. All-in-all, feeling pressure to do everything, and to do it as close to perfect as possible, can have severe consequences on our mental health and general peace of mind. This article will highlight ways to help beat perfectionism as a university student, hopefully helping to bring some peace back into your busy life.
An essential first step in beating perfectionism is accepting that you are not perfect, and as such it is impossible to be the perfect university student (or perfect anything for that matter). This may seem obvious, but with the growing heap of expectations being placed on us, it’s important to remember this fact and be gentle with yourself. When you keep this truth in mind, you’re better able to bounce back from setbacks and ‘failures’, and are less likely to berate yourself if you find yourself struggling to meet certain goals or benchmarks. By viewing your own abilities more objectively, you’re also able to make a plan that will help you meet your goals. The point is not to stop working hard at your studies, but to realize that you will make mistakes. Success involves responding to mistakes and setbacks in healthy, kind, and productive ways.
Secondly, identify what you do well and be proud of yourself when you accomplish something. When you have perfectionistic tendencies, it can be easy to focus on your shortcomings and ‘failures’. However, taking the time to recognize your successes and strengths helps boost your confidence and self-esteem. In turn, the need to reach for perfection can lessen, being replaced by a desire to just work hard and try your best.
Next, remember that perfectionism hinders you from meeting your goals. It’s been discovered that perfectionism is linked to procrastination, meaning that fear of failure can negatively affect your studies. The reasoning behind this is perfectionism can make you feel as though it would be better to not do something at all, if you cannot do it perfectly. In response to this, don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Start tackling those practice problems or preparing that presentation. This can even apply to hobbies, such as singing, writing, playing a sport, or another skill. Allow yourself to get started without being perfect—you will accomplish much more when you allow yourself to stop delaying out of fear of failure. Isn’t that such a freeing mentality?
Also, don’t be afraid to go to counselling/therapy. Perfectionism can arise out of a certain mentality that we may have had for an extended period of our life. Visiting a professional who can help you break out of those harmful mindsets can be greatly beneficial, not only regarding university studies but also other aspects of our lives. The SMU Counselling Centre offers meetings with professionals, which you can arrange by emailing counselling@smu.ca, or calling 902-420-5615. Additionally, the Counselling Centre also offers various events/workshops that you can attend, helping to create more healthy and positive mindsets. Hours to contact the Counselling Centre are as follows: weekdays 8:00am-4:00pm from September-May and weekdays 8:00am-3:30pm June-August (evening appointments are possible if you are unavailable during business hours).
Finally, be aware of the influences you are exposed to, and the media you are consuming. Sometimes perfectionism can rear its head when you see another person post about how well they did this semester, or when ‘hustle culture’ is glorified on various mediums, from social media to movies and television shows. Consuming all of this can lead to unhealthy comparisons, creating anxiety. You do not necessarily need to cut out these influences—being aware of them and recognizing that these portrayals are not always realistic can help manage the feelings of perfectionism that may arise. If necessary, limit your exposure to these influences so you are better emotionally and feel less inclined to compare your life with others’.
While you may feel that perfectionism has helped you succeed in the past, it also has negative effects on your mental health. There are ways to beat perfectionism and still live a successful and fulfilling life. Ultimately, remember that your value and worth does not arise from your successes or failures, but that you are a unique human who is worthy of happiness and fulfillment.
References
https://oregoncounseling.com/article/10-ways-to-overcome-perfectionism/
https://this.deakin.edu.au/study/avoiding-the-trap-of-perfectionism-when-studying