Mom, Dad, I don't know how to tell you guys this, so I guess the the only way is to just say it: I am a perfectionist.
Now, I know you may have some questions, but let me start by giving you some basic facts about perfectionists:
1. We plan in advance. Like, way in advance.
Agenda setting is one thing, but if a perfectionist is given a long-term role, then they will plan out and set goals for months and possibly even years into the future. We typically don't like to think small. Once we envision an idea, it's a bit difficult to get us to get back into the mind-frame of the present, but definitely possible.
2. We like to do EVERYTHING.
If we are going to get involved in anything, it’s basically an all-or-nothing situation. This doesn’t mean that we perfectionists are bad team players, although sometimes, that can be the case. When working on a team, we want to make sure that what we are trying to accomplish is the most it can possibly be; and if that means that we have to create a rap in a disgusting attempt to connect with "cool-kid culture" or build a exact-to-scale 3D replica of the state building out of macaroni, then by God, we will do it. Our general life motto is “Go big or go home,” and for good reason.
3. We are constantly sleep deprived.
Among the many sacrifices we are willing to make in the never-ending quest for perfection, sleep is probably the first thing that we perfectionists are willing to give up for the sake of the vision. There is probably more coffee flowing through our veins than blood at any given point in the day. If you spot us sleeping in public lounges, please don't touch us, it's probably been a while since we've slept this well.
4. We criticize everything we do and make severely.
We are our own worst critic. It’s a fact that we have accepted, but "acceptable" will never actually be acceptable for us. There is nothing that anyone else could say to us that we haven't already told ourselves. However, if another person does just happen to say one of the many critiques we've been telling ourselves for the past three hours, it has the potential to rip open our insides. You'd never know that by looking at the smile we've plastered to our face, though.
5. We have high levels of anxiety.
This is just a given. Between the sleep deprivation and the constant self-criticism, we are already on edge. Add in all of the work we have to do on a daily basis, and you'll understand why all we really want is just a bit of recognition for all our hard work. Well, that and maybe a nice, quiet back-rub.
6. We procrastinate.
Yet another reason why we perfectionists are just filled with anxiety. Our tendency to procrastinate may seem counter-productive, but many of us swear we do our best work on a tight deadline. We get our best ideas when we are put on the spot, it's a given truth.
7. We focus more on the results and final product than the process.
Now, I know I said that perfectionists like to plan in advance, but hear me out. We plan out goals. We don't exactly know how we are going to accomplish these goals, we just know that we want to done by a certain point. This is where being a part of a team becomes imperative. We need to be in a team so that others can keep us focused on the task at hand rather than getting caught up in a dream. We really want to help, so we need others to keep us accountable as a definite part of the production and set-up process.
8. We go HARD.
When a perfectionist finally finishes all of their duties and is able to really let loose, it's always an good time. All of our friends have been waiting for this ever since we told them we had a free day from our busy schedules. There is no holding back when we have a day off, because there is nothing that needs to get done right away, which means we can stay out as long as we want and then wake up the next day in the late afternoon (we've got to catch up on all that missing sleep somewhere) with absolutely no regrets.
I know you probably have some more questions, but let's just leave it here for now, okay, Mom and Dad? We can talk more later, I have some work to do. Now, where is my coffee?
