The “Minimum Baseline” - An Antidote to Perfectionism

No doubt perfectionism erodes your self-trust (which impacts your self-confidence and your perception of your self-worth). 

⭐️Here’s a potential antidote to try: the “minimum baseline.”*⭐️

The minimum baseline is choosing one thing at a time and doing the least amount of that one thing you are able to do consistently - until it becomes a habit.

Basically, you make your goals so small you ensure success.

I KNOW. YOU HATE THAT.

It’s not enough.

Hear me out though.

The minimum baseline should be the smallest commitment you can make that you know you can follow through on.

If you feel like it’s too small to be worth it? BINGO. You’ve got the right goal.

You still have to manage your mind (because your brain doesn’t actually want you to do anything that requires effort), but the goal should feel doable.

Perfectionism is: I should and have to do spin class 2 times a week, yoga 3 times a week, and run at least 5 miles a week. And I need to start immediately.

Minimum baseline is: I’m going to go to one hour long spin class a week until that becomes effortless. Then I’ll add a yoga class and do both until it becomes effortless. Then I’ll add a run in if I still want to. Rinse and repeat.

Have trouble meeting that? Make it smaller. One 10 minute spin class once a week. 

And you’re going to celebrate the shirt out of yourself when you do what you said you will. Even if it is just 10 minutes. No minimizing allowed. 

You’re objecting. I can hear it from here. You want it to be bigger. Your brain is telling you that spin class once a week is pointless. 

But it isn’t.

It’s way better than buying a gym membership, multiple exercise apps, a fitness tracker and making plans to workout 7 days a week and then doing none of it. (Ahem. Ask me how I know.) It’s forward momentum.

But here’s why it really matters.

Every time you keep that one commitment to yourself, you are building back up your trust in yourself. 

You do it over and over. Little bit by little bit.  

Because you are a person you can rely on. In fact, you always were. You just forgot that in your quest for perfection. 

*A concept I learned from Master Coaches Kara Loewentheil and Brooke Castillo. 

A ❤️ note to you: The erosion of your self-trust is just one of the many ways in which perfectionism works to your detriment. It also keeps you playing small and from taking any of the risks that would move you towards a life you love. It contributes to procrastination. It increases your anxiety and overwhelm. It impacts your productivity. It stops you from being able to rest, relax, and enjoy your life. And more. I’d love to help you change all of that. I have just a few spots in my 1:1 coaching program for the rest of the summer. Send me an email (jenn@jenndealcoaching.com) or sign up for a free call with me at jenndealcoaching.as.me/consult.