Progress Over Perfection to Improve Your Health
Have you ever held back from starting something just because you couldn’t do it perfectly?
That hesitation, rooted in the pressure to get everything exactly right, can quietly influence so many areas of life. It doesn’t always look like a big problem at first. But over time, that all-or-nothing mindset can keep you from making meaningful progress.
In this episode, we’re talking about how perfectionism gets in the way. Whether it’s a new habit, a routine you’re trying to build, or a goal you’ve set for yourself, the need to get it just right can become the biggest obstacle. We’ll break down where that pressure comes from, how it shows up in daily decisions, and what to do instead.
Keep reading to learn how to move forward without waiting for perfect conditions.
The Problem with Perfectionism and Why Letting Go Can Help You Move Forward
Perfectionism can feel like a strength, but most of the time, it’s the reason people stay stuck. You want to eat perfectly, follow your plan perfectly, hit every workout... and when you miss one thing, it suddenly feels like you’ve failed. So you start over. Or worse, you quit.
The truth? That pressure to do everything “right” is what’s holding you back. Progress doesn’t come from being perfect. It comes from being consistent — even when things are messy, or off, or just not ideal.
I say this with love: perfectionism is just fear wearing a polished outfit. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of not being enough.
I’ve had moments where I felt it creeping in. Like recently, I was setting up to record and nothing looked how I wanted it to. My first thought was, “Ugh, I’ll just skip it and try again when it’s better.” Classic perfectionist energy. But I caught myself. I reminded myself that done is better than not done. And honestly, that episode still helped someone — even if the lighting wasn’t great.
So if you’re someone who waits until everything is perfect before you take action, here’s a little nudge. What if 85 percent is actually enough? What if showing up, even a little imperfectly, is what moves you forward?
Because perfect is a myth. But progress? That’s real. And you deserve to feel it.
When “Good Enough” Is the Smarter Choice
Not too long ago, I posted something on Facebook about a cabinet in my office. The knobs were placed weirdly low, and I realized the doors were probably upside down. I noticed it right away, years ago, but I never fixed it. Why? Because it worked. And honestly, I had better things to do.
Seven years later, a patient finally said, “Hey, I think those doors are upside down.” I laughed because, yeah, they are. But I also explained that fixing it would’ve cost me more time, energy, and money and it didn’t really matter.
Some people totally got it. Others said they could never leave it like that. And to be honest, that’s probably why they’re stuck.
Because perfectionism doesn’t just keep things tidy. It keeps people spinning. You obsess over the little stuff but never get to what actually matters.
And that’s the thing. Perfectionism often feels productive, but really, it’s a fancy form of procrastination. It keeps you distracted from the deeper work.
Sure, some things do need precision. Like if I’m prescribing medication, of course accuracy matters. But a bookshelf? Your workout schedule? That one meal that didn’t go as planned? Not life-or-death.
If you’re always waiting for the perfect setup, the perfect day, the perfect plan, you’ll wait forever. But if you can roll with “good enough,” you stay in motion. You make progress.
All-or-nothing thinking is the trap. One missed workout doesn’t mean your week is ruined. One off meal doesn’t mean you failed.
Progress over perfection. Every time.
So ask yourself. Is this helping me move forward, or is it just keeping me busy?
Let it go. Take action. Done is better than perfect.
Let Go of the “Perfect Diet” and Start Making Progress
One of the most common places perfectionism shows up is with food. People often latch onto a specific diet they believe is the right one. Maybe it's Paleo, Whole30, vegan, or a super clean whole-food plan. Sometimes it’s backed by research, sometimes it’s personal experience, and sometimes it’s just that inner voice saying this is how it should be.
But then comes the waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment to start. Waiting until life slows down, until the fridge is stocked, until every meal is planned. And while they wait, they fall back into old habits like fast food, skipping meals, or grabbing whatever’s around.
The truth is, waiting for the perfect time usually means not starting at all.
And even if there was a perfect diet, experts can’t seem to agree on what it is. Some swear by plant-based. Others by carnivore. The reason both work for some people is because there’s no one-size-fits-all. Perfection just doesn’t exist.
So aim for better, not perfect. Use what you have. Can’t afford pasture-raised eggs? Regular ones are fine. Don’t have time to prep a week of meals? Start with prepping just one. Life won’t pause for you to get everything together. It keeps going. So make changes that fit into your real life.
And when things don’t go as planned, give yourself some grace. Even people with strong nutrition habits eat out sometimes or grab something quick because it’s easy. It doesn’t erase all your progress.
What really slows people down is the spiral. One off meal turns into, “Well, I’ve already messed up, might as well start over next week.” But it’s not the meal. It’s the mindset.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s being intentional. I like the 80/20 rule. If you’re on track 80 to 90 percent of the time, you’re doing great. The rest is flexibility. That’s real life.
Research shows most diets can improve health as long as they’re consistent, thoughtful, and reduce ultra-processed stuff. What matters is that you’re paying attention, aiming for balance, and trying to do just a little bit better.
So instead of chasing the perfect plan, ask yourself:
Am I being intentional?
Am I aiming for balance?
Am I making progress?
Perfection will slow you down. Progress keeps you moving.
And when it comes to food or anything else, moving forward, even imperfectly, is always better than standing still.
The Problem with Waiting for the “Perfect” Exercise Plan
Perfectionism doesn’t just show up in nutrition. It gets in the way of exercise too. A lot of people build this perfect idea of what their workout routine should look like, and then wait for life to match that plan. But real life almost never does.
Here’s a common one. “Once the kids go back to school and I have more time, then I’ll start walking after drop-off.” That sounds great, but what about the two months before school starts? Does that mean no movement at all in the meantime?
Instead of waiting, ask yourself what you can do right now with the time and energy you actually have. Maybe it’s a bike ride with the kids. Maybe it’s a quick ten-minute bodyweight workout while they’re watching a show. It might not be what you pictured, but it still counts. And something is always better than nothing.
Another way perfectionism sneaks in is when we compare ourselves to who we used to be. Maybe you used to run a few times a week, and now you can’t—because of an injury, a busy season, or just life. And because running felt like “real” exercise, walking or stretching suddenly feels like it doesn’t matter.
But it does. Movement is movement. Walking, yoga, dancing in the kitchen, a few minutes of stretching before bed—it all supports your health.
Exercise doesn’t need to be intense to be valuable. Let go of the idea that there’s only one right way to move your body. What matters is that you move.
This is where perfectionism causes the most damage. You either wait for the perfect conditions or stop altogether when you can’t meet your own expectations. But if your goal is better health, progress matters more than perfection.
So stop waiting. Don’t give up just because the plan isn’t perfect. Start small. Start messy. Start now.
Because when it comes to movement and healthy habits, doing something will always get you further than doing nothing.
Letting Go of Perfectionism in Health, Medications, and Progress
I see this a lot with weight loss medications. There’s this hope that it’ll lead to major results with zero side effects. And while that sounds amazing, the reality is usually more of a mixed bag. Some people might lose 5 to 10 percent of their weight. Others might feel tired, a little nauseated, or have trouble sleeping once in a while.
And yeah, that can be annoying—but the real question is, is it worth it? If the medication helps you feel more in control, move more, and eat better, maybe a little discomfort once or twice a week is actually okay.
That’s where the idea of settling comes in. And honestly, settling isn’t always a bad thing. In business, people make deals all the time by knowing their bottom line. No one side gets everything, but both walk away with something valuable. Health is kind of the same.
So ask yourself, what’s good enough for me right now? Maybe it’s walking a few times a week. Maybe it’s losing five pounds instead of twenty. Small wins still matter. You don’t need perfection. You need progress that actually fits your life.
And clarity helps. Personally, my goal is to feel capable. I want to lift things, go on long walks, and feel strong—not win a bodybuilding contest. So I plan my workouts around that. What’s your real goal? Is it to avoid health risks? Feel confident? Be ready for pregnancy? Whatever it is, figure out what you’re okay settling for to get there.
Think of it like building a bookshelf. Do you want something that holds your books or something Instagram-worthy? Sometimes chasing perfect just wastes your time and energy. Good enough can be powerful.
So maybe try thinking this way:
Any movement is good.
Any effort around eating counts.
I don’t have to be perfect.
A ten-minute walk? That counts. Choosing a veggie at lunch? That’s progress. These little wins add up.
Take a minute to think about where perfectionism might be getting in your way. Are you waiting for the perfect time? Giving up because things weren’t flawless? Could 80 percent still move you forward?
Let go of the all-or-nothing mindset. Choose progress. Choose consistency. Keep going, even if it’s not perfect.
Perfection might sound like a worthy goal—but it often holds people back more than it helps. The truth is, progress comes from consistency, not flawless execution. And the sooner we let go of the need to do everything “just right,” the easier it becomes to build habits that actually last.
If this resonated with you, don’t stop here. Check out this episode for practical ways to shift out of perfectionism and into steady, sustainable progress.
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