Student Wellbeing 

Let's Talk about Perfectionism

Perfectionism is sometimes painted as a positive trait that might increase chances of success in life. However, perfectionism is different to healthy standards and a strong work ethic, just as it is different to an ambitious attitude. Perfectionism is not the same as striving to be your best or aiming for healthy growth and achievement. Perfectionism can cause great distress if this is a continuous mindset held by someone and can lead to self-defeating behaviours and thoughts which may impact goal achievement. It can also increase feelings of anxiety, depression, stress and other mental health conditions. Often people who strive to be “perfect” may feel inadequate, have high self-criticism or a strong fear of failure. 

Perfectionism can be a constant in all areas of a person’s life, or in specific areas. Common areas people may struggle with perfectionism include in school or work, in relationships (friendships, partners), regarding physical activity (e.g. in sports, or in body standards), around hygiene and health, and regarding how someone speaks and writes.

But how do you know if you are a perfectionist or a high achiever? A great way to analyse this is to consider how much of an effect this has on you personally. Aiming to be the best you can indeed be hard work, and challenging at times, but it should not be debilitating and distressing. 

Some examples of perfectionism:

• You may not do a task unless you know you can do so perfectly, or you may procrastinate doing tasks for this reason
• The end-product is the most important part of projects and goals – less focus is on the process, experience, and learning
• You might have difficulty finishing something until it is perfect and according to your standards
• (If you do not have a disability, neurodevelopmental condition or other context that impacts this), you take excessive time to complete a task that doesn’t usually take others as long to complete 
• Feeling unsatisfied with achievements and always seeking more
• Seeing anything other than a perfect outcome as a sign of personal failure
• Comparing yourself unrealistically to others
• If you are struggling with perfectionism, you may wonder about how to overcome this. 

So how do we challenge perfectionism?

Become More Aware of Your Tendencies

The first step to overcoming perfectionism is to become aware of it. This can be through taking a moment to pause and consider your thoughts and expectations. Are they fair, reasonable or sustainable? Consider if you held these expectations for a friend - would you feel the same way? Or do you hold yourself to another standard than others? 

Focus on the Positives

Often when struggling with perfectionism, we focus on the negative aspects of ourselves or our work. However, it’s also important that we make a conscious effort to also recognize the good, too. This is a more realistic view of ourselves, our life, and other contexts. It is important to consider what to improve upon in life, but in doing so, you should also try to challenge yourself to identify three things that you are proud of or appreciate about yourself also.

Allow Yourself to Make Mistakes

Making mistakes is human! Imagine how boring it would be if we were perfect in everything we did. When we allow ourselves to make mistakes, we see that this isn't the end of the world. Mistakes are also opportunities for us to grow, learn, and improve. A great way to practice imperfection is to try a new hobby. You'll likely not be good at the first try, because developing skill takes time. 

Set Reasonable Goals

Perfectionists often tend to set unrealistic goals with impossible standards. This sets them up for failure, and increases distress. Think about how you set your goals. SMART goals might be a good framework to try setting new goals. When we feel less stressed and more confident in our capabilities, we can enjoy challenging ourselves to reach goals in a healthy way. 

In summary, perfectionism is often seen as a positive quality, but it can harm your mental well-being and personal growth. It's crucial for teenagers to understand the difference between striving for excellence and unhealthy perfectionism. 

Signs of perfectionism might include putting things off, being overly critical of yourself, or obsessing over perfect outcomes. To combat perfectionism, start by recognizing these traits and questioning if your standards are fair. Remember, it's important to see both the positives and negatives in your life. Embrace your imperfections and don't fear making mistakes; they are opportunities for growth and learning. Try setting realistic, SMART goals to reduce stress and build self-confidence. This balanced approach can lead to personal growth and success in a healthier way, tailored to the unique challenges and experiences of teenagers.

Breakfast Club - Now at Wellbeing

Breakfast Club is open to all students so please join us 8am - 8:30am Tuesdays and Thursdays at Wellbeing for some free healthy food to start your day!

Outgrown your Uniform?

If you have College uniform items in good conditions that you no longer wear, Wellbeing are looking for donations. Please drop washed uniform items at the General Office in a bag marked for Wellbeing. Thank you.

Youth Support services 

headspace: visit headspace.org.au to find your nearest centre or call headspace on 

1800 650 890.

Kids Helpline: 

1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au 

ReachOut: reachout.com.au 

SANE Australia: 1800 187 263 or sane.org

National 24/7 crisis services 

Lifeline:13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au 

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au 

beyondblue: 

1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au

Student Wellbeing Team

Email: wellbeing@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au

Ashleigh Bibby - Leader of Wellbeing

Guiseppe Relia – Wellbeing Coordinator 

Talea-Jane Simpson – School Counsellor

Lea Marrison - Mental Health Practitioner

Tajinder Wulff - Mental Health Practitioner