I'm a perfectionist. How do I get over that?

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

To clarify on the title, my problem isn't so much that I'm a perfectionist, but that I am so much of one that, when I make a mistake, I get so distracted by doing so that I make more mistakes, or lose my temper. Considering I'm in school to become a pharmacy technician, that isn't exactly how I want to work.

Does anyone have any advice for improving on that beyond "just get over it" or "grow up"?

 

[Vegosiux]

Practice makes perfect (HAH!). Really, I'm the same. Often I'll scrap my entire project if I made a mistake completely and return to the drawing board while hissing and ranting at myself because that's the stupidest thing to do, ever. But with time I've learned to simply take a break, go out for 10 minutes, take a short walk, get my mind together and then approach with a calmer head.

If you can, next time that happens, just drop everything for a few minutes. Take a few breaths, reevaluate the situation. Work with what you have, not with what you want to have.

 

[Just_A_COMS_Major]

Vegosuix is right. Whenever you feel frustrated over a mistake you've made, take a step back and calmly think through it. Another option that I've found to work is simply removing yourself from whatever the project is completely. Watch some TV, read an unrelated book, dick around on the forums, make dinner, etc. Wanting your work to be perfect isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's no reason to keep scrapping your work. Just keep a level head, and you'll be fine.

 

[Super_John]

Just become more motivated and try to use tips of time-management