Don’t let perfectionism get in the way of your wellbeing or completing assessments

Aiming high can be a great motivator, but when we start chasing perfection in every corner of life, it gets exhausting. And let’s be real: it can chip away at your wellbeing.

Research shows that perfectionism is linked to higher stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Instead of pushing us forward, the pressure to ‘get everything right’ can make it harder to start tasks, finish projects, or feel proud of what we’ve achieved.

Perfectionism can stem from lots of places – early life experiences, academic pressures, personality traits, or the constant comparisons we make on social media. Over time, it can spiral from a healthy drive for success into a draining cycle of self-criticism, procrastination and fear of failure.

Listen to our Perfectionism Podcast

If you find yourself being drawn into unhealthy perfectionism, give a listen to our podcast episode on perfectionism. You’ll learn a lot about what perfectionism is, its causes and what you can do about it and it won’t take long. You can even queue the episode up and listen to it on a walk or as you go about your day.

How to break free and embrace your real self

 We encourage you to let go of perfectionism and embrace something far better: being human.

Embracing imperfection means recognising that mistakes are part of learning (and life). It’s about celebrating effort, growth and resilience – not just the final result. When we let go of the impossible standards we set, we make more room for connection, creativity, and true progress.

At Deakin, we believe that taking care of your mental wellbeing is every bit as important as striving for academic excellence. Why not try one of these small but powerful mindset shifts:

• Reflect: Are the expectations you place on yourself realistic – and are they kind?

• Celebrate: Notice and honour the effort you’re putting in, not just the outcomes.

• Reframe: Speak to yourself like you’d encourage a friend (with warmth and patience).

• Keep it real: Remember, progress is built through practice, not perfection.

• Reach out: You never have to do it all alone.

You’re doing more than you realise. You’re learning, growing, and showing up for yourself every day – and that’s worth celebrating.

If you’re interested in more tips to keep perfectionism from getting in the way of finishing your assignments, check out this video by Deakin counsellor Andrew Chua.

We’re here to help you

We also encourage you to seek support whenever you need extra help. We offer a range of support and services at Deakin, both for your studies and for your health and wellbeing.