Perfectionism might help you make a great apple pie and keep you on time for every appointment, but it also can contribute to excess stress in your life. While not all of your perfectionist traits are negative (for example, having your bills and closet in order saves time and hassle), they can stress you out. Take time to assess your personality; do you find that you are often unnecessarily worried or stressed over things you can't control? If so, take steps to accept your perfectionism and move on. You'll feel less stressed, and you'll have a better outlook on life when you recognize that life can be messy, but you don't always have to clean it up.

Step it up: