Done Is Better Than Perfect
Note from Jamie
I like to share things that light me up, fill me with joy, and make my life easier. Nothing is sponsored. These are just things that are helping me along my journey.
Done Is Better Than Perfect
There was a time in my life when I believed everything had to be done fully, beautifully, and at maximum effort… or not at all.
As a former Straight-A student, Type A achiever, and recovering people pleaser, I lived in black-and-white thinking. I gave everything my all. Big things. Little things. All things. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right.
Until eventually… that way of living caught up with me.
Because when life got busy, or messy, or I didn’t have the energy to give 100%, I would do something surprising: nothing.
Maybe you know this feeling.
I don’t have time to pull all the weeds, so I won’t pull any.
I don’t have time to clean the entire bathroom, so I’ll skip it.
I don’t feel like doing my entire stretching routine, so I won’t stretch at all.
I didn’t plan the perfect birthday celebration, so I’ll do nothing.
Perfectionism has a sneaky way of disguising itself as high standards, when often it’s just fear wearing a polished outfit.
A few months ago, I decided to try something different.
I call it my 15-minute program.
As the snow melted this spring, our yard revealed what winter had left behind: branches, sticks, fallen limbs, and general chaos. Scott usually tackles yard cleanup himself, but I wanted to help. The truth was, though, I didn’t have the stamina or desire to spend an entire day doing it.
So I made a deal with myself.
Fifteen minutes.
That’s it.
I put on music, set a timer, and cleaned up sticks for 15 minutes. To my surprise, I got a lot done. The piles grew bigger each day. I broke a sweat. I had fun. I felt proud.
And maybe most importantly… I wanted to do it again the next day.
That’s when it clicked for me: small consistent effort often beats dramatic occasional effort.
So I brought the same idea into the house.
I don’t need to clean the whole bathroom. I can wipe the mirror.
I don’t need to organize the whole room. I can clear the table.
I don’t need to conquer the entire to-do list. I can do the next right thing.
I’ve also started each morning by asking: What are the three most important things I need to do today?
Not thirty.
Three.
Some days I finish them all. Some days I don’t. But I almost always complete something meaningful.
And that, my friends, is progress.
Lately I’ve been deeply intrigued by the power of consistency. How little things add up. How tiny steps become momentum. How seemingly impossible things get handled one small action at a time.
There are still setbacks, of course.
We continue working to pay down debt, and then life happens—home repairs, volleyball expenses, me accidentally driving into our mailbox (yes, really). It can feel discouraging when progress gets interrupted.
But I’m learning that setbacks do not erase progress. They are simply part of the path.
A wise friend recently reminded me to look backward sometimes. To notice how far I’ve come. Because if we only stare at the gap between us and our goals, life can start to feel like one endless chase.
I needed that reminder. Maybe you do, too.
Today, if something feels overwhelming, impossible, or too far away… don’t ask yourself how to finish it all.
Ask yourself: What can I do in 15 minutes?
Then begin there.
A drawer.
A walk.
A prayer.
A phone call.
A few stretches.
One email.
One brave next step.
Done is better than perfect.
Consistency is more powerful than intensity.
And a beautiful life is often built 15 minutes at a time.
xoxo,
Jamie
Inspiration
Nourish Pick of the Week
Sometimes the products we create continue to surprise us. I first made our Cooling Spray for after-sun care and soothing sunburned skin. Since then, it has revealed so many beautiful uses.
Recently, Scott sustained a severe second-degree burn on two fingers while pouring hot water for tea. He immediately began using Cooling Spray, and we’ve both been amazed watching the healing process unfold. Each day we see a difference—and more importantly, he feels a difference.
Designed to calm, comfort, and refresh, Cooling Spray has become a customer favorite for sunburns, burns, hot flashes, flare-ups, and those moments when your body simply needs relief.
A little bottle of soothing support when life gets a little too hot.
Recipe of the Week
If you’re looking for an easy, comforting, and nourishing dinner, this one is such a gem.
Shared by my Naturopathic doctor, this Green Goddess Gnocchi Skillet is packed with fiber, protein, and a beautiful boost of greens—all in one delicious pan.
I love that it comes together with simple Trader Joe’s ingredients, including their gluten-free cauliflower gnocchi.
It’s the kind of meal that feels cozy and satisfying while still supporting your wellness goals.
Easy enough for a busy weeknight, wholesome enough to feel really good after eating it… definitely one to add to your regular rotation.
Live well. Be kind.
Jamie
