YOUR RESULTS...

MOSTLY ●

YOU TAKE THE BALANCED APPROACH

Getting hung up on being perfect is not something you struggle with, but be careful your laissez-faire attitude isn’t perceived as indifference. It could mean that you’re less likely to strive for more – in turn, running the risk of letting life slide you by.

TAKE ACTION: Check in with your goals. ‘Do this regularly so you can assess how you’re getting on and then push yourself further,’ says psychologist Dr Elena Touroni, co-founder of The

Chelsea Psychology Clinic. Shaking up your day-to-day habits can also help you to feel more engaged in your relationships, hobbies and work life. ‘A change in routine feels like an opportunity for a fresh start and can enhance our motivation,’ adds Dr Touroni.

MOSTLY ▲

YOU’RE HARD ON YOURSELF

The standards you set for yourself are impossibly high. This has a knock-on effect as when you can’t complete everything as you’d like, you beat yourself up, explains positive psychologist Dawn Baxter***. ‘You may have a fear of success or a core belief that you’re not capable and not good enough.’

TAKE ACTION: Stop the tough self-talk. Imagine it were your best friend in the situation – would you demand the same level of perfection from them? ‘We often view ourselves more negatively than we would others,’ continues Dawn. ‘Speak to yourself kindly – the way you would to a friend – this gives you a break and is a reminder that you deserve self-respect and love, too.’

MOSTLY ■

YOU OFTEN PROCRASTINATE

For perfectionists, avoidance means not having to face failure. ‘With so much pressure on yourself it’s easier to delay or even avoid the matter at hand, rather than risk an average performance,’ says therapist Marisa Peer **** . But failure can be a good thing. ‘It gives us a chance to reflect on where things went wrong, helping us improve and change,’ she adds.

TAKE ACTION: Rather than giving up when the going gets tough, write down your goals and make a plan, with achievable deadlines. ‘Doing so changes how you see the project – psychologically it seems more manageable and so you’re more inclined to make a start,’ says Marisa.

MOSTLY ◆

YOU’RE KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

You portray the perfect image of having it all together. But not being honest with ourselves and with others can over time lead to emotional avoidance and loneliness. How? ‘When we stuff our emotions down, they inevitably end up reappearing negatively further down the line,’ says Dr Touroni.

TAKE ACTION: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable with a trusted friend or family member. ‘Sharing how you really feel helps to lighten the load,’ says Dr Touroni. And remember, others are rarely expecting you to be ‘perfect’ – nobody is judging you like you are yourself.