Self-Care for the Perfectionist: Letting Go of “Perfect” and Finding What Works

About this episode

Jill and Linda discuss the impact of perfectionism on self-care and how to embrace imperfection in motherhood.

What happens when perfectionism sneaks into self-care? In this episode of Mucked Up My Self-Care , Jill and Linda unpack the tension between wanting everything “just right” and the messy reality of motherhood. From waiting for the perfect moment to spiraling into guilt when plans fall apart, they share raw reflections on how perfectionism holds us back and what it looks like to embrace imperfection instead. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why perfectionism and vulnerability don’t play well together How high expectations set us up for frustration and burnout The hidden trap of waiting for “perfect timing” before doing self-care Why nature and movement are powerful (and imperfect) forms of self-care How rest, even when unplanned, counts as real self-care Simple ways to reset when self-care doesn’t go as planned   Self-care isn’t about picture-perfect timing or flawless execution; it’s about meeting yourself where you are. Jill and Linda remind us that sometimes the most powerful form of care is letting go of expectations and embracing the imperfect options in front of you. If you’ve ever delayed self-care because the stars didn’t align, this episode will help you reset…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jill Olish, Linda Bonney

Topics covered

• perfectionism
• self-care
• motherhood
• vulnerability
• burnout
• imperfection

Keywords

• self-care
• perfectionism
• motherhood
• vulnerability
• burnout
• nature
• movement
• rest
• expectations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: mamaoutspoken.com

More episodes of Mucked Up My Self-Care Podcast

• The Mental Load is in a Self-Care Crisis · June 1, 2026 · 28 min
• How Moms Around the World Do Self-Care · May 3, 2026 · 30 min
• Why Moms Feel Guilty When Doing Good Things for Themselves · April 5, 2026 · 28 min
• What Happens When You Outgrow Yourself and Self-Care? · March 1, 2026 · 29 min
• A Pause for Self Care · November 10, 2025 · 12 min
• When Self-Care Feels Selfish · November 2, 2025 · 22 min