I never thought of myself as a perfectionist until I recently read a book called How to Be an Imperfectionist by Stephen Guise.
I’ve always found getting started harder than getting things done. When I’m doing something familiar, I can get started easily. But when it comes to something new, even something I’m genuinely interested in, I often hesitate.
I’m afraid of failing, and I’m afraid that all the time and effort I put into something will be in vain. Sometimes, I spend more energy thinking about doing something than actually doing it.
Reading this book helped me understand why.
One idea from the book that particularly resonated with me was lowering my expectations. For example, if I decide to go to the gym, it’s okay to work out for only five minutes. It’s okay if I’m not feeling my best or if I don’t have everything prepared. I can still consider it a successful day.
I realized that I don’t need to meet my own high standards every single time. Consistency is more important than perfection.
Interestingly, I started to notice a connection between this idea and my experience with AI.
Rediscovering the gym
I used to go to the gym, but I eventually stopped. Looking back, I realized that one of my biggest frustrations was uncertainty.
I didn’t know what exercises to do next, whether I was doing them correctly, whether I was eating right, or whether I was making any progress. I watched YouTube videos and tried to figure everything out on my own. After an accident at the gym, I stopped going altogether.
Three months ago, I started going to the gym again. This time, I used AI.
I shared my fitness goals, uploaded my meals, and asked what exercises I should do each time I went to the gym. I still watched YouTube videos to learn how to perform the exercises correctly.
Gradually, I started seeing progress. I could do more reps, and my body fat measurements were going down. Having tangible results gave me positive feedback and motivated me to keep going.
I’ve been much more consistent than ever before.
What’s more interesting is how I feel about a bad workout now. Even if I don’t finish all my planned exercises, I’m okay with it. As long as I make the effort to show up at the gym, it’s a win, no matter how much I do.
That’s when I realized that my experience with AI was closely related to what I had learned from the book.
From creator to reviewer
Another example is travel planning.
I used to find planning trips with friends overwhelming. One friend might be more interested in hiking, while another might want to explore local coffee shops. There were also must-visit attractions that I didn’t want us to miss.
With so many things to consider and so many chances to make mistakes, I often put off planning until the last minute.
Now, with AI, I can simply share my concerns, the destinations I have in mind, and what everyone enjoys. Once AI suggests a plan, I can review it, make changes, and dive deeper into the things that interest me.
Of course, I could find much of the same information through Google. But every time I searched for something, I found more articles and recommendations. I would wonder if I should click on another link or read another travel guide. What if I missed something important?
With AI, even though I know it can miss things too, I feel much less overwhelmed. I can focus on exploring what interests me. Once I get started, I actually enjoy the process of planning a trip.
I think part of this comes from a change in my role.
When I’m a creator, especially in an unfamiliar area, I often don’t know where to start or what to do next. But when I’m a reviewer, I find it much easier to express what I like, what I don’t like, and what could be improved.
Having something to work with makes a huge difference. I care much less about the quality of the first version because I know there’s room for improvement.
Writing this very blog
Another example is the blog you’re reading right now.
English is my second language, and I’ve always struggled with grammar. Before AI, I never even considered writing a blog.
But as I’m writing this, I find myself simply putting my thoughts into words without worrying too much about my grammar or how well everything is organized. I know I can work with AI to improve these things later.
For now, I just want to get my thoughts out.
My first draft doesn’t have to be good. And to my surprise, I’m actually enjoying the process of writing and reflecting on my own experiences.
Becoming an imperfectionist
These days, I use AI for many other things, from learning about synthesizers to doing my taxes. I’ve become more willing to explore things that I would have found intimidating in the past.
But what makes me even happier is that I’ve noticed a change in myself even when I’m not using AI.
I care less about whether my first attempt will be successful. I’ve started to think more like an imperfectionist. Just get started. It’s okay if the first version is rough. I can always improve it later.
Perhaps that’s why I think AI is so perfect for a perfectionist like me.
It’s helping me become an imperfectionist.