How to Alight the Perfectionism and Procrastination Cycle
Stop trying to delay tasks in the pursuit of perfection, and focus on getting them done!
When a big project comes, you're not going to actually roll up your sleeves and start on it right away. Rather, you will think about every step you need to take, and then rethink it, and only sit down to work after you have finished the whole thing in your head. Of course, by this time, it's dangerously close to the deadline, so you're scrambling to finish. The same thing happens with the next project, and the next---if this is your cycle, it's time to alight and start moving in a different direction!
For serial perfectionists, good enough just won't do. This pursuit of perfection, many argue, leads to better results. But more often than not, when perfectionism leads to procrastination, all we're left with is a long list of pending to-dos, missed deadlines and expectations, and lost opportunities.
So, how do we get work done without compromising on our very high standards? The key is in breaking the perfectionism-procrastination loop and just focus on getting work done!
Understanding the Perfectionism-Procrastination Loop
Perfectionism often stems from unrealistic standards and a fear of negative feedback or consequences. It can be driven by low feelings of self-worth and a need for control, leading to an excessive focus on mistakes. In other words, you're afraid to get started on a challenging task because you don't know how to get it just right.
Procrastination too, stems from similar emotions, The fear of failure, reluctance to be in an uncontrollable situation, and negative emotions regarding mistakes that may occur make you want to delay a task for as long as possible. During this time, you may also let distractions seep in and take up more of your time and focus, keeping you away from what's truly important.
In many cases, the pursuit of excellence and perfectionism results in procrastination--you delay your goal until you're sure you'll be able to complete it without a hitch. But of course, this practice can end up holding you back from personal and professional development.
So, how to break this vicious cycle and achieve your goals? Here are a few tips:
Breaking the Perfectionistic Procrastinator Cycle
Change Mindset and Improve Mental Health
Perfectionism and procrastination are both, in essence, issues of mindset. You need to change your mindset to focus less on the results and challenges, and more on the work itself. This same mindset will also help you embrace imperfection and move forward while refining your work, knowing that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process.
Practice Self Compassion and Self Care
Practicing self-compassion rather than negative thoughts can help to reduce procrastination and overcome perfectionism. Don't focus on your shortcomings and put yourself down if you lack certain knowledge and skills--rather, try to understand what you can do to fill the gaps and learn what you need to do to get the work done.
Break Down Goals and Set a Schedule
Breaking bigger complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps can help them seem less daunting and increase your productivity--you can make them SMART Goals, with the help of our tool Crunch!
Once you have goals listed down, make a schedule that will help you stick to deadlines and use time management techniques, such as time boxing and pomodoros, to stay focused and avoid procrastination.
Embrace Mistakes and Reduce Negative Emotions
The first draft will always be too long and riddled with errors. The key, however, is to get it done so you can focus on refining it in the second round. So, don't let small mistakes and challenges hold you back--keep forging ahead the best you can with the knowledge that you'll always be able to return and fix what is needed.
The more you accept the small setbacks and move forward, the less negative emotions you'll feel in the long term.
Celebrate Small Wins
As you make progress, take a few minutes to celebrate every milestone you cross and every challenge you overcome. This will keep you motivated and push you to keep going forward.
Seek Support, Accountability, and Feedback
Your loved ones are here to help you get your goals done--don't shy away from asking for help! Have a family member or friend check in and ensure you're actually doing the work you need to do, not just thinking about it. And during the process, seek feedback from people who understand the project to help you improve it, so you don't feel the pressure of figuring out everything by yourself.
Get Professional Help
If simple accountability doesn't help you shake off your perfectionism and procrastination tendencies, consider approaching a licensed therapist or professional to help you understand what's really holding you back, and how you can overcome it.
Intrigued to use external accountability to beat procrastination induced by perfectionism? Why not join Boss as a Service?
How BaaS helps overcome Procrastination
At Boss as a Service, we are geared to help you achieve goals and ensure that you are actually working on them. Join us for daily check-ins, tips to beat procrastination and perfectionist tendencies, and improve your motivation and overall productivity!
Final Thoughts
Perfectionism and procrastination keep us away from progress. Shift focus to the getting things done.