Use the arrow keys to navigate between menu items.

Seeking perfection

2 minutes read

Getting 100% on the audit might seem like something to strive for, but getting stuck in the quagmire of perfectionism can land you in a hole.

First off, there's the issue of time. You don't have it. Trying to achieve perfection in accessibility often means pouring countless hours into scrutinizing every pixel, line of code and interaction. It may be admirable, but spending too much time obsessing over minor tweaks can delay releases and frustrate your team.

What about priorities? Striving for perfection mean losing sight of what's truly important. It means sweating the small stuff, while overlooking fundamental barriers that prevent people from accessing your content.

Perfectionism can also breed a culture of fear. Your team might become afraid to take risks or try new approaches, fearing they won't meet the impossibly high standards set for accessibility.

Then there's the human cost. Constantly chasing perfection will take a toll on your mental health, lead to burnout, anxiety, and self-doubt.

So, what can you do?

Embrace imperfection. Recognize that accessibility is a journey, not a destination. Instead of striving for perfection, focus on continuous improvement, iteration, and learning from your mistakes. Celebrate progress, no matter how small, and remember that seeking perfection is a trap.

As long as you're moving in the right direction, you're doing alright.

Did you enjoy this bite-sized message?

I send out short emails like this every day to help you gain a fresh perspective on accessibility and understand it without the jargon, so you can build more robust products that everyone can use, including people with disabilities.

You can unsubscribe in one click and I will never share your email address.