My Biggest Piece of Advice - as a perfectionist
I will cut straight to the chase. Look back on what you have achieved. Remember all those times you thought you would finally slow down when you achieved XYZ? and did you slow down? I certainly didn’t. I thought I would when I achieved my degree, I was wrong.
When you are only chasing future achievements you aren’t celebrating present and past ones. The biggest piece of advice I have for freelancers, creatives or general perfectionists is to look back at what you have achieved. Growth looks different for everyone, they are on a different timeline.
In order to practice what I preach, here is a list of achievements in 2025 I should be really proud of:
I got an ENTIRE DEGREE. Three years of blood, sweat, vending machine snacks, commuted to huddersfield and tears went into this. I seem to look past this often, as everyone on LinekdIn has a degree. But come on - I should wake up grateful for this achievement every day.
I took up running - one day I woke up and decided to run a 5km. 5km! Now I run every week im more aware of the runners space online and everyone’s below 6:00 pace and ‘easy run’ half marathons. Running is HARD. I told myself I never could, and I did. Go Me.
Im juggling a part time job and being a freelance photographer. No more words needed. 👏🏼
I am saving for to buy a house, at the age of 21. This one is difficult because I don’t have it yet, but I’ve been saving for the last three years with the serious goal in mind, I should be proud.
On my 2025 bingo card I wrote ‘my first freelance commission’. Here I am now paying tax. Forgetting the Poppy in January just wanted to leave 2025 with one singular commission, not knowing how I would be headhunted by two household brands!
I apologise for bigging myself up there - but it had to be done. If you read this far, go write a list, or watch your old videos or social media posts you made for your business this year and look at how far you have come. Give yourself a pat on the back and go celebrate your wins!
Signed: The Perfectionist Who Never Feels Accomplished x