So, have you ever found yourself endlessly refining a task because you want it to be perfect?
Or completely avoiding an important task because you want to do a good job and don’t know how?
I know I have!!
Sometimes when we want to do a really good job of something we either spend too much time on it or completely avoid it, instead of just getting it done.
And there is a term for this behaviour.
Perfection procrastination is a term used to describe the tendency to delay or avoid or overdo tasks because we want them to be PERFECT.
Where you are swinging between, “I need to make this perfect” and ” I’m not ready to do this”
Of course, there are times when striving for excellence is important.
But it is also important to recognize when our pursuit of perfection is actually holding us back.
Here are some ways to manage perfectionism procrastination
- Clearly define the end goal and how you will know you have reached it.
- Break up the task onto smaller manageable tasks. Start with what you know.
- Set realistic goals and deadlines for yourself.
- If you find yourself getting too caught up in the details, take a step back and remind yourself that “done is better than perfect.”
- Find an accountability partner to keep you focused and avoid overdoing the work.
What are some other ways to manage perfection procrastination?
And if so, how do you overcome it?