This week, I rediscovered my Audible account. A friend suggested that I listen to a book, so I did and found all the books I had purchased in years past. After I listened to the book suggested, I moved on to a book that I had listened to three-quarters of before.
The book is entitled The Pursuit of Perfect. It reminds me to let go of the need to be perfect. I think I’ve let go of perfectionism for the most part, but if I’m looking for a justification for not getting things done, I’ll blame the lack of “perfect” conditions, research, or some other irrelevant factor.
One of the topics discussed in the book is the risk of burnout that perfectionists can suffer. I know from past experiences that my need to control how things were done stopped me from delegating or even wanting to hire help, which put me on a path to burnout.
The author, Tal Ben-Shahar, discusses the importance of recovery time. You hear about it with athletes. I remember hearing sportscasters criticize athletes for not playing the full season and taking time off so their bodies can recover.
Recovery time is necessary for everyone. It’s why we sleep, though many of us aren’t getting the sleep or rest we need. If you’ve ever worked yourself for long hours for many days, you know it isn’t sustainable.
Drinking many cups of coffee or using other substances to keep ourselves awake doesn’t do our bodies any favours either.
The reality is that when we take a break from work, we come back refreshed, with a clearer mind, and problems that seemed impossible now have a clear resolution. I think the challenge is that when you’re in the midst of the issue, it’s difficult to permit yourself to take a break, but it’s the best path forward.
This audiobook is coming at a time when I just booked a weekend getaway to celebrate my friend’s birthday. It will mean two days when our shop is closed, and listening to The Pursuit of Perfect has dissolved any anxiety about not being at work for two days.
I was telling my husband about the book, and we discussed perfection being an illusion. Perfection is so subjective. I could think I wrote the most insightful post, and someone else may think there’s nothing special about it.
While I may not struggle with the notion of being perfect, I appreciate the reminder to give myself recovery time, with the knowledge that there are benefits to taking a break and allowing myself to rest. 🩵