The pursuit of “perfection” is often what ruins our fitness goals. We try to find the “perfect” diet or the “perfect” workout, and the moment we “mess up,” we quit. A fitness professional suggests an “anti-perfection” mindset is the key. This is a framework for real people living in the real world. Here are three rules for this new mindset.
The first rule: slow down. The “perfectionist” wants to see “perfect” (i.e., “instant”) results. This leads to a “hypersonic” rush. A veteran coach explains this is a trap. You try to be “perfect” with a crash diet, and the moment you eat one “imperfect” food, you feel like a failure. This “all-or-nothing” perfectionism is the enemy of progress.
The “anti-perfection” rule is to embrace a patient, deliberate pace. You are not trying to be perfect; you are trying to be consistent. This careful, sustainable approach is what leads to faster, more permanent progress because you are no longer starting over from a feeling of “failure.”
The second rule: focus on your ‘efforts.’ The “perfectionist” is obsessed with results—the “perfect” number on the scale. A fitness expert insists you must focus on your efforts, not your outcomes. Your effort is what matters. This is a more forgiving and “anti-perfectionist” way to live.
This means your energy is invested in controllable, daily actions: your sleep, your hydration, your food choices, your 10-minute walk. You don’t have to be “perfect” at them; you just have to do them. This leads to the third rule: choose small, ‘imperfect’ changes over big, ‘perfect’ ones. A big, “perfect” overhaul is impossible to maintain. A small, “imperfectly” applied change—like trying to add a vegetable to most meals—is the “anti-perfection” secret to long-term success.
The ‘Anti-Perfection’ Guide to Fitness: 3 Mindset Rules for Real People
