You're scrolling through social media. Someone from high school just got promoted. Another friend is buying their second home. Your cousin just had her third baby. You close the app and stare at the ceiling, thinking: 'I'm so behind.' But here's the truth—you're not behind. You're on your own timeline.

You don't have a motivation problem—you have a permission problem. Motivation culture wants you to believe you're failing because you're not pushing hard enough. But the real issue? You've never given yourself permission to want what you actually want, rest when you need to, or live differently.

People-pleasing, perfectionism, and emotional labor aren't personality traits—they're survival strategies you learned to stay safe and loved. If you're exhausted from performing, that's not failure. It's a sign you're ready for something different: authenticity.

People-pleasing, perfectionism, and emotional labor aren't personality traits—they're survival strategies you learned to stay safe and loved. If you're exhausted from performing, that's not failure. It's a sign you're ready for something different: authenticity.

The myth of the 'good' feminist says you must be perfect—read all the right books, attend every protest, never make mistakes. But perfectionism is a tool of oppression designed to keep us small and burnt out. Real feminism is messy, imperfect, and liberating.

Traditional New Year's resolutions are designed to make you feel inadequate. They reinforce perfectionism, hustle culture, and comparison that keep you striving for impossible standards. This year, try a feminist approach to goal-setting that actually honors your humanity and values.

Perfectionism isn't the path to success—it's the road to burnout. If you're constantly exhausted, procrastinating on important projects, or feeling like you're never enough no matter what you accomplish, it's time to break free from the perfectionism cycle and start living authentically.