What If Perfection Is Actually the Problem?
There was a time when I would spend an entire afternoon nudging a design element two pixels to the left. Maybe you’ve been there too? As a graphic designer obsessed with perfection, I wore burnout like a badge of honor. I multitasked like my life depended on it, thinking I was being “productive.”
But honestly? It was draining me—and it was killing my creativity.
⚠️ The Myth of Multitasking & the Toll of Perfectionism
I thought I was thriving. I wasn’t.
Multitasking and perfectionism are often glamorized in the design world—but in reality, they suck the joy out of the job. And research backs this up. A study from the University of Sussex found that constant multitasking can actually reduce gray matter in the brain, affecting emotional control and decision-making.
🔗 Read the study here
Even worse? It elevates stress levels. Long-term, that means increased risk of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and heart disease.
🔗 Here’s a breakdown from Inc.
All that hustle culture? Turns out, it’s not only unsustainable for people—it’s unsustainable for the planet, too.
🏭 Fast Work Hurts the Environment, Too
Let’s talk about the ripple effect of that high-speed, high-stress grind: the environmental damage.
Industries that thrive on fast production often sacrifice eco-conscious practices in the name of efficiency. Just look at fast fashion—one of the most wasteful industries on Earth. It generates 92 million tons of textile waste each year, enough to fill a garbage truck every second.
🔗 Stats via Earth.org
And what about fast design? Constant iterations, reprints, discarded prototypes. It all adds up. Speed without purpose creates waste—in our systems, in our schedules, and in our spirits.
👦 How My Son Changed Everything
Then Tommy came along.
Tommy has Autism, Down syndrome, and a brain injury. And let me tell you—his brain doesn't do fast. He doesn’t multitask. He doesn’t overthink or hustle for approval. He engages with the moment, fully and honestly. It’s a kind of presence I’d forgotten how to access.
At first, I didn’t get it. I was conditioned to believe that success came from doing more, faster, better.
But watching Tommy—seeing how he moves through the world—made me realize something radical: maybe the world should adjust to him, not the other way around. Tommy is the proof that purpose, not perfection, brings growth.
🛠️ Building a Workplace Around the Individual
This is how REbEL Against Perfection was born.
I wanted to create a work environment that adapts to the human, not force the human to adapt to the job. Tommy isn’t here to “fit in.” He’s here to lead, to create, to inspire. That’s why we are looking fo ways he can make meaningful products to become the CEO of his destiny.
This isn't just my mom heart talking. Studies show that when we create neuro-inclusive environments, productivity and satisfaction go up—for everyone.
🔗 Check out Deloitte’s research on neuro-inclusion
Another study found that neurodivergent teams can be up to 30% more productive—when their environment works for them, not against them.
🔗 More on that here
🌱 From Hustle to Harmony
Tommy doesn’t chase perfect—and now, neither do I.
At Route T21, we:
Build our schedule around Tommy’s rhythm.
Create art and products with intention, not urgency.
Celebrate neurodiversity and reject the cult of constant productivity.
Because honestly? Perfection is exhausting. But purpose—that’s energizing, with lasting effects that can transform societies for the better.
💬 Want to Join the REbELlion?
If you’re tired of perfectionism, burned out by multitasking, or just ready to slow down and live with intention—you’re not alone. You’re not broken.
✨ Explore Route T21 for eco-friendly handmade gifts, art, and jewelry made with heart and purpose.
✨ Sign up for our REbEL newsletter and join a growing community of people who are trading hustle for healing.
Let’s build a world where we meet people where they are.
Let’s stop glorifying busy.
Let’s start honoring human pace—and the CEO inside each of us.
