How to know when your work is good enough (and stop overworking)
TL;DR:
Knowing when a creative project is "done" is especially challenging in a perfectionism-driven, hyperproductive culture.
True completion is less about perfection and more about asking: Does this work still need something from me?
Your work doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful, and you don't have to earn your rest, creativity, or visibility through overwork.
How do you know when a creative project is “done”? Perhaps you’re working on a painting, a report or a collaboration and knowing when to stop can feel ambiguous.
I recently reached a point of realising that one of my paintings was finished. I paint with many layers, incorporating mixed media and stories into the work, which means there isn’t a neat end point.
I was reflecting about the way I decide when my creative work is done and thought it could be helpful to share. As is so common for those of us in WEIRD¹ environments, I’ve spent years in systems and cultures where “done” can be normalised as insufficient... There can always be a tweak to make and a ‘higher standard’ to reach. Indeed, for many of the creative leaders who come to me for coaching, the idea of ‘done’ can feel almost impossible. A hyperproductive culture and perfectionism are tough drivers.
Creative completion is more than a technical matter
Technical resolution is of course important. When striving for excellence, it is standard to assess a work against technical criteria to ensure it hits the mark. For example, when I paint, I ask myself questions around composition, contrast and differences. This later part of the creative process is analytical and editorial.
But to know whether a creative work is complete, I also run a deeper assessment about how the work feels. Does the painting still need anything from me? If not, then it is done. I can leave it be, knowing it has resolved.
Your creative work belongs out in the world
Knowing when a work was completed was also important in my years as a strategic researcher, in the fast-paced culture of Silicon Valley. My work needed to be trustworthy and actionable - “good enough”, not perfect - for it to enable my stakeholders to move forward. (I must add here: for many high achievers, “good enough” is still higher than the required standard).
The tension between '“done” and “good enough” is familiar for many of my coaching clients, when they first connect with me. They’re values-driven, creative and high-performing, but caught in cycles of overworking, burnout and second-guessing themselves. They want their work to be great but they struggle to know when it’s enough, which can impact their wellbeing and satisfaction with work and life.
Redefine what completion means to you creatively
Perhaps you're sitting with your work, wondering if it’s enough or ready to share with your particular audience?
If you are, I offer a small invitation: What if “done” means it’s ready to serve its purpose in the world?
Thinking back to my painting I mentioned earlier, it feels done to me not because it’s flawless but because it feels alive and has something to say. And for me, that is the point.
You might be leading a team, launching a project, or quietly rebuilding your creative confidence. Whatever it is, when adding or taking away no longer improves it, then perhaps it’s done.
Your work doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. And you don’t have to perform perfectly to rest, make art or be seen.
And you don’t have to navigate it alone.
I share more reflections in this short video below.
I’d love to know: what’s your approach to deciding when your creative project is done? Please share in the comments below.
Footnotes
¹ WEIRD - Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic
I am committed to honouring the wellbeing, creativity and leadership of every person. If I can help you or your team with this journey please reach out by contacting me here. Learn more about my coaching services here and workshops here.
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