Perfectionism and procrastination are generally considered separate and unrelated issues. However, when examined closely, they look more like kissing cousins than casual friends.
Procrastination is an obvious obstacle to success and achievement; while the other, perfectionism appears as the desire of one to present quality and precision. Most of the time, they both serve the same purpose … preventing you from achieving your goals and dreams. Let’s take a closer look to see what I mean.
Perfectionism … the ego’s power play! I have had my own problems and experiences with perfectionism. One thing I have learned about this is that seeing something as ‘perfect’ is relative to where we are at a particular time in our growth and awareness.
I’m still working on getting through it completely, but now I’m so much better at realizing when I’m giving in. It was an obstacle to being and presenting my best self for a long time. When I learned to let go and allow my inner self to express myself as I am, things started to flow much better and I accomplished much more.
When I look back at some of the jobs that I once thought were ‘perfect’, well … it doesn’t look so perfect now. I have grown and evolved; and my beliefs and perceptions have changed.
While most of my work still makes me proud, other projects seem underdeveloped or unpolished. And, some of that makes me say to myself … ‘what was I thinking when I wrote or did that!’
For example, I started writing a book a few years after losing my son. He seemed so enlightened and powerful at the time. I spent years rewriting, revising and trying to ‘make it perfect’.
He had a lot to say and he wanted it to be perfect. In the end, I never published it. I worked on it for years, but it was never completed. For me, it was never the shining example of perfection that I wanted it to be.
Now when I look at the manuscript, I regret not having completed it and letting it run. He had a message that was never delivered. Those he wanted to help never read what he was offering, which means we all lost the benefit of that missed opportunity.
Now let’s take a look at procrastination. Simply put, this is the only habit that will stop you cold. We all do it, even successful people procrastinate. The difference is that they have learned to recognize it and have developed techniques to control and overcome it.
Procrastination manifests itself in many ways. When it comes time to work on our projects and tasks, we unconsciously look for and find all the excuses in the world to avoid doing them.
At the office, we take bathroom breaks, visit coworkers, drink coffee, make phone calls, maybe surf the web! At home, we play with the kids, walk the dog, do housework, water the plants, make phone calls, and yes, we surf the net … do you see where I’m going with this?
Now, it’s okay if you procrastinate from time to time; and don’t beat yourself up for it. But, you need to recognize the signs when it’s doing it and take steps to stop it before it stops you.
While perfectionism appears to be a positive attribute and is perceived as something to admire, procrastination is widely recognized for what it really is … an obstacle to your success.
The bottom line is whether you are a perfectionist or a procrastinator, the end result is the same … you don’t meet deadlines, you don’t complete projects, and you achieve your goals and dreams.
If these time-consuming and energy-consuming behaviors are allowed to continue unchecked, you will end up feeling frustrated and defeated the whole time.
No matter how talented and capable you are, you will never reach your full potential until you master and control these behaviors.
So what is the answer? It is simple, although not necessarily easy. First, learn to identify what behavior you are exhibiting and when.
Are you continually reworking, rewriting, and revising projects that cause you to miss or postpone deadlines? That could be a sign of perfectionism.
Instead, do your best to complete your project, make reasonable reviews, and post it as complete … on time. When you’ve done your best, you know it, and feelings of success and accomplishment are your rewards.
When you procrastinate, you have a hard time even starting a project. You have knots in your stomach, you feel anxious, restless, and even guilty.
But, once you get past procrastination and complete a milestone or task, you feel relaxed, satisfied, and motivated. This gives you a sense of success and accomplishment and increases your self-confidence.
Now that you know how to recognize what behavior you are exhibiting, you can decide what actions to take. I said the answer was simple, but not necessarily easy.
The truth is that you are the solution. And how you handle these challenges is up to you.
Taking action requires willpower, focus, and self-discipline. Make the decision to change the self-destructive behaviors of perfectionism and procrastination and choose to experience success and achievement instead.
Make a plan. The next time you start procrastinating, stop; Take 3 deep breaths and do something related to your project or job.
When you see perfectionism increasing, set a deadline for completing a phase or milestone and stick with it. Do your best, then let it complete and move on to the next phase or project.
As with all things in life, it is about making decisions. You can choose to continue to experience the limitations and resistance of perfectionism and procrastination, or embrace the freedom and euphoria that come with achievement and success.
Procrastination and perfectionism, or success and achievement; Which of these two kissing cousins would you rather have in your family? Choose wisely … you will spend the rest of your life with them. Perfect!