Wellbeing 

Be More Like a Taco: A Lesson in Perfectionism

Nobody has ever looked at a taco that has fallen apart, filling everywhere, sauce dripping down the side and thought, “Well, this is completely ruined.”

You just pick it up, accept the mess and keep eating.

So why are we sometimes so much harder on ourselves?

When “Doing Your Best” Becomes “It Has to Be Perfect”

Wanting to do well can be a great thing. It can motivate us to study, practise, improve and work towards goals.

Perfectionism is a little different.

It can sound like:

“If I don't get a really good mark, I've failed.”

“Everyone else seems to be managing better than me.”

“I shouldn't make mistakes.”

“If I can't do it properly, there's no point doing it at all.”

And perfectionism isn't limited to schoolwork. It can sneak into friendships, sport, appearance, hobbies and even how we think our lives should look compared with everyone else's.

The problem is that when our expectations become impossible to meet, they don't necessarily make us work harder. Sometimes they make us avoid starting, procrastinate, overthink, compare ourselves to others or give up altogether.

Try the 80% Experiment

Here's a challenge: find something this week that you're willing to let be good enough at.

Not everything deserves 100% of your energy.

Maybe your homework doesn't need another 45 minutes of tweaking. Maybe the message to your friend doesn't need to be rewritten six times. Maybe you can try something new without needing to immediately be good at it.

Ask yourself:

“Does this actually need to be perfect, or does it just need to be done?”

Saving your energy for the things that genuinely matter isn't lowering your standards. It's learning how to use your time and energy wisely.

Talk to Yourself Like Someone You Actually Like

We can also be surprisingly harsh with ourselves.

If your friend received a disappointing result, you probably wouldn't tell them, “Wow, you're terrible at this. Everyone else is doing better than you.”

But sometimes that's exactly how we speak to ourselves.

Being kind to yourself doesn't mean pretending everything is wonderful or ignoring mistakes. It means being able to say:

“That didn't go how I wanted. What can I learn from it, and what can I do next?”

Mistakes, awkward moments, disappointing results and plans that don't quite work out are all part of being human.

A Quick Perfectionism Reset

• Aim for progress, not perfect. Getting started is often more important than getting it exactly right. 

• Try the 80% rule. Ask yourself: “Is this good enough to do its job?” 

• Catch the comparison trap. You’re usually comparing your behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlight reel. 

• Change the self-talk. Ask: “Would I say this to a friend?” If not, rethink how you're speaking to yourself. 

• Let mistakes give you information. Instead of “I failed,” try “What can I change next time?” 

Be more like a taco.

A little messy doesn't mean unsuccessful. Things can fall apart slightly and still turn out pretty great. And you don't have to have everything perfectly together to be doing okay.

Bullying No Way Week – Small Acts, Big Impact

This week, we acknowledged Bullying No Way Week, Australia’s leading bullying prevention initiative for schools.

This year’s theme, “Small Acts, Big Impact,” is an important reminder that creating a safe and inclusive school community is something we all play a part in. Preventing bullying doesn't always require a grand gesture. Small actions such as including someone who is sitting alone, checking in on a friend, speaking up when something doesn't feel right, or simply choosing kindness can have a meaningful impact.

Bullying No Way Week gives us an important opportunity to continue conversations about respect, inclusion and belonging, while reinforcing that bullying is never acceptable within our school community.

We encourage students to remember that if they experience bullying, witness something concerning, or are worried about another student, they don't need to manage it alone. Speaking with a trusted staff member, Year Level Team or the Wellbeing Team is an important first step.

To learn more about Bullying No Way Week, including information and resources for students and families, visit the Bullying No Way website. https://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/bullying-no-way-week/