Future Imperfect

Many people feel under pressure from their peers and superiors to be perfect at work. This is reinforced on social media, including business channels like LockedIn, where irritating strangers not-so-humblebrag about the perfect work/life balance, their meteoric shimmy up the career ladder, or their (pass the sick-bag, Alice) awards and recognition.

 For most of us struggling to survive let alone live normally, the thought of trying to deliver perfection is the last thing on our minds. And for many people it weighs down on our minds and causes unwarranted health problems, feelings of inferiority, and often rage. There are many causes of this pressure: 

 Living on the Ceiling

If this Blancmange song rings a bell (“You keep me running round and round, Well that's alright with me, Up and down, I'm up the wall, I'm up the bloody tree”), then you probably need to find a way to step back and contemplate. Being in a permanent state of advanced angst is certainly no good for your health. 

Ideals

Living in Brizzle, ideals are when locals have a lightbulb moment. Granted that’s rare out in the sticks here, me babber, but it’s gert lush when it happens. Elsewhere, many folk are worried that they should live their lives to other people’s ideals, whether they are appropriate or not to themselves.

 Performance Manglement

Poor managers (the majority of the bosses we come across) are the main cause of anxiety for all of us. Some make our lives hell because they can. Most are ignorant of their effect on us.  Most of you readers are, will be or have been, managers so reflect on what you are unreasonably demanding of ordinary people.

 Stress Balls

Have you ever felt that knot in your stomach, sometimes accompanied by a panic attack, when asked to rework a pointless PissPoorPoint pack late on a Friday evening, as some little Hitler demands some pixels moved so they’ll look better in front of their boorish bosses? Yep. Me too.

 If you find yourself worrying about meeting the impossible standards that seem to be expected of you - stay awhile and listen. Here are some imperfect ideas to sooth your spirit.

 Frankie Says Relax

Easier said than done, the ability to relax ourselves is a forgotten art for most of us. While many people, who don’t understand the irony, use stimulants (sex&drugs&alcohol) to try to relax, it is better to use peace, calm and nature to unwind. 

 Hakuna Matata

It might be irritating hearing antipodeans spouting, “No worries!”; it is not a bad mantra to practise yourself. Granted, most of us have some worries some of the time; if you can convince yourself to worry less you will feel much better. 

 All Right Now

There’s no harm in aiming high but forgive yourself and others if it is not achieved. Don’t aim low though as you will just get frustrated.

 Help!

Asking for help is always OK. It’s a sign you are not trying to be perfect, and that you understand your limits. When shit happens, you don’t have to deal with it alone.

 Good Enough

For most things in life and work good enough is normally good enough. Yes, perfect might be better but it is rarely needed. We live in a fuzzy world with many variables and unknowns. Many things are outside of our control, and we should accept we are not blame if it goes a bit Pete Tong in these situations.

 Pass It On

For those managers reading this, spare a thought for your staff. Many of them are trying their best. If your shitty boss has set you an impossible task don’t pass the unfair pressure onto your minions. Forgive others if they have tried and forgive yourself unless you’ve turned wicked and lazy – in which case you are indeed a perfect idiot.

John ‘And Breathe’ Moe