Done is Better than Perfect

This is a follow-up from my last post where I introduced the idea of foundational activities and how they can help with writing. If you didn’t catch that one, you can read about it here.

When it comes to foundational activities, keep in mind that doing something is better than nothing. Way better, in fact! Don’t let the fact that you can’t do the thing perfectly, or to 100% completion, stop you from doing it at all. That sounds almost ridiculously obvious to say—of course something is better than nothing. But, if you are like me—anxious, perfectionistic, achievement-oriented—it can be very easy to fall into the unhelpful pattern of not doing a practice at all because you’re waiting for the opportunity to be able to do it perfectly.

Here is something that came up recently in my own life—My goal is to run. I’m a bit out of practice, so I took a few steps to make running easier: I bought a jogging stroller so I could take my toddler with me (i.e., no need to locate elusive solo time in order to run), I downloaded the couch to 5K app on my phone so I had a training plan, I created a couple of playlists on my phone, I bought new sneakers—you get the idea. I was all set to run!

Initially, I was following the app's program and running three times a week. Like I’ve done in the past, I was also strength training on alternate days. About a week into this, I thought: you know what would be really great and healthy? If I did two workouts per day—I could strength train in the morning and then do a run each evening! I’ll get through the training program at double the speed!

Perhaps you won’t be surprised to learn that about two weeks into this new regimen I hurt my back. Really hurt my back. Like, couldn’t walk or roll over in bed without major pain hurt my back. It’s amazing how an injury can make you appreciate the little things you always took for granted—like being able to move freely from point A to point B. Or being able to pick up your child.

After a few weeks’ rest and remediation, my back felt mostly healed. But I’m wary about jumping into running again, so for now I am taking it slow. When I want to get outside and move my body, I’m walking not running. A walk is not a run. It doesn’t feel quite as good. It’s not as “exercise-y.” I don’t break a sweat.

But a walk does allow me to move my body. It gets me outside, breathing the fresh air. It can change my mood and change my day.

If I think too long about all the things a walk is not, and talk myself out of moving my body at all, in the long-run that’s way worse for my physical and mental health. A walk is not the “homerun” I originally envisioned, but it’s still better than nothing.

Another example relates to writing. I’m an ardent follower of Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages. Cameron is very clear about the rules for these: write them every day, write three 8.5x11” pages longhand each day, and write them first thing in the morning. But as a working parent of two young children, one of whom is currently home on summer vacation, I can tell you that the only rule I meet reliably is the writing longhand part.

I don’t write them every day. Some days I write one page, or two—not three. I almost never do them as the very first thing in my day. I would like to think that Julia would understand, that she’d say something is better than nothing, but I’m honestly not 100% sure—she’s pretty clear that the rules are the rules!

But I’ve decided that, for me, something is better than nothing. I would actually LOVE to be able to rise early and do all three pages first thing in the morning. I used to wake up at 4:30 am and write three pages while my older daughter slept. The birth of my second baby has put that practice on hold for a while. (I’ve tried to get back into this practice multiple times, but each time without fail my younger daughter wakes when I do, waking my husband with her and setting the whole family off on a grumpy, sleepless trajectory!) So, it’s not for lack of desire or commitment that I’m not doing the pages as prescribed. But for now, I will do what I can and I make that enough. The full practice is waiting for me. I'll get back to it. What matters is that I stay connected to it, in whatever way I can, and that means doing it partially, doing it imperfectly, but still doing it.

Let yourself be just “good”, or even just “okay.” Not everything that you do needs to be a homerun. Not everything needs to be excellent. And take care not to beat yourself up twice—at first for not doing the practice at all and, a second time, after you start the practice, but "only" in some imperfect form (as in, eh, it was only a walk.). Celebrate the walk! Pat yourself on the back for having written the two pages! Be your own friend, not the frenemy who tears you down.

When it comes to foundational activities, your goal isn’t to ace them. But’s not to drop them either! It’s to engage in them in the way that most helps you. Think of your foundational activities as your unique behind-the-scenes support team. Doing your foundational activities helps you to be your best self. Keeping up with them shouldn’t cause more stress.

Happy writing!

Image credit @sporlab