How To Overcome Procrastination & Perfection.

Do you often find yourself putting off tasks because you wanted to wait for the perfect moment to execute it?

If the above is true, you are most probably a perfectionist and will need to overcome procrastination and perfection at the same time!

Understanding the intricate link between the above two can be your first step to overcoming them.

What Is A Perfectionist? Are You One?

A perfectionist is someone who wants things done more than just right – they hold themselves to impossibly high standards, striving for a flawless outcome at all times.

While being a perfectionist can give you an edge – pushing you to excel which in turn, ensure top-notch work; it also comes with a disadvantage.

It can often lead to being paralyzed with inaction because a perfectionist have this thinking:

If I can’t do it perfectly, why do it at all?’

This can be a stumbling block when it results in excessive self-criticism, stress, and, you guessed it, procrastination.

In the end, it leads to not starting and eventually not completing tasks.

If you’re nodding along after reading the above, please do know that you’re not alone…

The Pitfalls of Perfection: When Striving for the Best Becomes a Setback

Aiming high can indeed lead to impressive achievements, but when the pursuit of being flawlessness starts governing your actions and life, it may end up affecting your productivity seriously.

While you might think that a little extra polish on a project couldn’t hurt, but do know that there’s a fine line between healthy ambition and paralyzing perfectionism.

You see, for a perfectionist, it is almost like there is a whisper that haunts you, telling you that only the best will do and anything less than the best, is a failure.

This mentality breeds a fear of failure so intense that it stops you from even starting.

You procrastinate to avoid the possibility of not meeting those sky-high standards.

In addition, over time, this can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and even depression.

It can even tarnish your perception of success and creating an ever-moving target that’s impossible to hit.

Therefore, perfection demands time, is stressful and often accompanied by diminishing, returns.

Do think about it – the extra hours you pore over a task could be allocated to starting new projects or enjoying a well-earned break.

Moreover, getting things DONE is better than trying to be perfect and NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE.

Ask yourself – Is the quest for perfection stopping you from submitting your work?

Or is the fear of an imperfect presentation keeping you from sharing your potentially groundbreaking ideas?

In the following section, I’m going to help you shift from a mindset that’s held captive by the need for perfection to really achieving progress.

We will look into actionable steps that you can integrate into your life to break free from procrastination and fear.

We will explore strategies, including recognizing triggers and setting realistic goals, to cultivate a healthier, more productive approach to your ambitions.

Bridging Fear and Action: Changing Your Mindset

In order to overcome perfectionism which prevents you from taking actions, it is important to equip yourself with the tools to not just manage, but leverage your high standards to your advantage without letting them paralyze you.

The first step is pinpointing what sets off your perfectionist tendencies.

Is it fear of criticism, a daunting task, or perhaps unrealistic expectations?

Identifying these triggers helps you anticipate and prepare for the moments when procrastination is likely to creep in.

What comes next is essential: adopting a growth mindset.

This is the belief that abilities and perfections can be developed through dedication and hard work.

When you shift away from a perfectionist mindset where mistakes are seen as personal failures, to a growth mindset, errors become opportunities for learning and improvement.

Bridging Fear and Action: Practical and Actionable Strategies

Breaking down overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable actions reduces the intimidation factor and makes starting easier.

Prioritizing progress over perfection is important.

This means you focus on moving forward​, even if it’s just baby steps. You will eventually enjoy the feeling of satisfaction and motivation of tracking your progress.

It is important to know the mesning of ‘good enough’ so that setting realistic goals​ are possible, which will in turn increases the possibility of completing tasks and ultimately achieving goals.

Cultivating positive self-talk is also an important strategy.

Positive self-talk can lead to a more resilient and less critical inner voice, of which increases the chances of you moving on instead of stopping when you give in to your perfectionist inner voice.

Finally, beginning to perform tasks, however imperfectly you begin, is crucial.

This is because, over time, the momentum you build after you start to perform tasks, will make it easier to continue.

Do know that this approach is not about lowering standards at all; it’s about redefining what’s truly important and focusing on consistent improvement rather than an unattainable ideal.

It’s stepping away from the ‘all-or-nothing’ thinking and moving towards a more balanced, healthy outlook on both your work and yourself.

Embracing Imperfection: Finding Balance and Acceptance

Attaining perfection is an illusion and knowing it is an illusion, makes it possible for you to pursue your first step, and continue from there.

This is because pursuing perfection is a mirage which keeps shifting and you will realise that you will never be able to catch hold of it.

Accepting the above is the first step towards a more balanced and fulfilling approach to your goals and tasks.

Therefore, start to embrace your imperfections, and why would you want to ?

Well, it’s not just about feeling better; it’s about being more effective and creative.

Soon, you will also come to love the new freedom that comes with this mindset.

It allows you to take calculated risks, explore new ideas without the fear of failure, and ultimately, enjoy the journey a lot more.

Do know that the secret sauce to finding balance lies in the power of self-talk.

You are your own biggest critic and supporter, so choose your words wisely.

Make it a point to remind yourself constantly that it is OK not to be perfect.

This doesn’t mean settling for mediocrity or producing less quality work—it can still mean setting high standards which are achievable, and at the same time, understand that missteps are part of the learning curve.

I’ve seen a lot of people break free from their own perfectionist shackles, and it blew me away in terms of the quality of life improvements.

We can take inspiration from industry leaders, artists, and pioneers who’ve all shown that imperfection can coexist with tremendous success.

Conclusion: Imperfection Is An Opportunity!

In conclusion, I really hope that you can start to see imperfection not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to grow.

You can always adjust your approach down the road, and remember, your first attempt doesn’t need to be your last.

Don’t worry too much about getting everything right the first time.

Choose something that resonates with you, take that first imperfect step, and let that be the start of something wonderful.

If you have questions or anything to share about perfectioniism and procrastination, please do comment below. I will be more than happy to hear them!