Unlike most procrastinators, you don’t have something you’re putting off doing right now.
That little nagging voice in the back of your mind yelling at you to just get started? Yup, it’s not there. Because you get stuff done. Kind of.
A perfectionist holds herself to incredibly high standards. And that pressure always makes you think everything could be better. The secrets to your work ethic isn’t a drive for success, but instead, a fear of failure. So you tweak, and tweak some more – an endless cycle of criticizing your work, making edits, missing deadlines, feeling like you have something to prove and on and on and on.
But, like anything in life, this is neither all good nor all bad. Remember you have strengths and weaknesses.
STRENGTHS:
– When your work finally gets turned in, it’s impeccably done.
– You’re incredibly motivated, and don’t find yourself postponing work ever.
– Your attention to detail is unparalleled.
– You’re reliable. Team members and employers know they can count on you to get great work done. Well, mostly done.
WEAKNESSES:
– You have higher levels of stress, burnout, and anxiety, thanks to this constant need for perfectionism.
– You have a tendency to lose sight of the objective and the bigger picture.
– You can be challenging to work with in a group setting. Your slow-paced attention to detail may work for you, but can frustrate others on the same team.
– Long deadlines can lead to many wasted hours overworking something that is already fantastic.
Some tips that are especially powerful for PERFECTIONISTS”
1. Keep track of where you’re spending your time with the extension.
2. Add some colour to your workspace. Colour adds energy and stimulates action.
3. Reward yourself. Set mini-goals and reward yourself for completing them.
4. Give yourself 25 or 30 minutes to work on a task, take breaks and then take 5-10 minute break, and after 4 such breaks, take a 30 minute break.
5. Set a deadline ahead of the official one.
6. Create a checklist and a todo list.
7. Play some light background music or upbeat so that stimulates your desire to get the job done.
8. Hide your phone.
9. Take five. If you struggle to get started take a fine minute break and do something else, whatever you are wishing you could do instead of getting started.
10. Tackle the most difficult part of the task first, first thing in the morning.
11. Or, start with the easiest part of the task first and then check it off the list.
12. Take one bite at a time. Don’t think of it as a huge job that all has to be done today. Remember to take a bite each day or each half day.
13. Stick to your goals!
14. Create a playlist of songs because music is a powerful cue for emotions and actions.
15. Find your why! Why is this task important? Why do I want to accomplish it? Why am I the right person for the task?
16. Forgive yourself. Guilty feelings does not help anyone get the task done.
17. Use the Eisenhower Matrix. You’ll need a piece of paper, divided into four quadrants with “Urgent” and “Not Urgent” at the top and “Important” and not “Important” akin goose the kept side Order the quadrants:
1. (Do), 2. (Plan),
3. (Delegate) 4. (Eliminate).
This will give you a good idea of your task priority, so you can go off and tackle them without wasting time on things that don’t benefit you.
18. Tally it up. Every time you feel the urge to procrastinate (whether you cave), put a little tally mark on a piece of paper. This helps you see how often that little devil on your shoulder pops up. Try to lower your tally each day!
19. Start writing to dear ol’ diary. At the beginning of your day, write down your task list and priorities, along with your main “reason why.” Think as your day goes along, check off when you complete something, but also note every time you’re distracted, what you’re distracted by with and how long you were distracted for. At the end of the day, take a moment to reflect on your day, and write down all that you’re accomplished.
20. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate. This is something I learned later in life than I should have. Actually I’m able to practice this on my family. Everything does not have to be done by you! And you shouldn’t. Keep the tasks that are most important to your success, but delegate out to everyone else to do the rest. Not only does delegation make you more successful, but it makes everyone feel like they are contributing also!
