How To Move Beyond Procrastination & Perfectionism
Life is less stressful as a recovering perfectionist. Procrastination & Perfectionism were my downfall. My mantra today is 'progress, not perfection'!
When I occasionally slip back into my old ways, I catch myself and think 'How important is this?' I am a lot better today than I used to be. That is all I can ask for - progress.
This relationship between procrastination and perfectionism has a profound impact on various aspects of our lives, whether you are trying to declutter, start a new business, or change a lifestyle habit.
The good news is there are effective strategies for those dealing with the perfectionism-procrastination connection!
Understanding perfectionists and procrastinators
Procrastination and perfectionism, two distinct personality traits, can and often do intersect in our daily lives. I know this is true in my life. I did not know at the time what was going on, it is only in hindsight I realized this.
Early on in my career as a hot glass artist, fear would often hold me back from trying new things. I learned that the reason I procrastinated trying new things was because I was too afraid I would not be able to execute my vision perfectly.
One day what happened was that the molten glass slumped out of control and I was able to save the piece because I decided in a split second to let gravity take over and see what would happen. A 'happy accident' occurred and I came up with one of my best-selling signature pieces!
This was a pivotal moment in my career and I was lucky enough to be paying attention to what was happening. From that moment on I decided to open my mind, and try new things, and when designs did not work the way I intended to roll with it.
I came to find my work was all about practicing. I also stopped beating up on myself and adopted a new mantra 'There is no such thing as failure, only delayed successes and happy accidents.
Decluttering and Procrastination & Perfectionism
I am drawn to the rock formations known as cairns because they are so wonderfully unique in appearance and so perfect in the way they balance. Is the balance still considered perfect if a passerby can brush against the sculpture and knock it over later?
Is the idea of perfect all about an individual's perception? I think so.
After a career of teaching art classes and now teaching decluttering I have learned how directly related procrastination & perfectionism are to these processes. I'll go out on a limb and say the same is true for whatever it is you focus on.
The reason is when you procrastinate and do not try new things because you think you may not do this new thing well you are stuck in the same place. I decided staying stuck was not a very interesting way to spend my life.
The two personality traits - procrastination & perfectionism are big obstacles for people when they want to declutter their lives. It is important to know what obstacles are preventing you from reaching your goals whether it is decluttering or changing careers and relationships. If you don't identify what is preventing you from moving forward you will stay stuck.
- Do you set high standards for yourself? You may be a perfectionist.
- If you can't succeed in your goals to your high standards do you consider yourself a failure?
- Are unattainable goals unacceptable to you and cause you stress?
It is understandable if you answer yes to any of these questions you would be prone to delay or to procrastinate a project.
I will give you some common and basic types of perfectionists and procrastinators. I need to emphasize that I am giving you a basic understanding only. There is an exhaustive amount of data on this subject for those interested in a deeper study.
Perfectionists
Carl Jung had something to say about perfectionism. "When we focus on being perfect, we cannot be compassionate, and, given the riven state of our current reality, we certainly need more compassion."
Perfectionism can cause procrastination. Perfectionism can also trigger anxiety and depression. Because stress and anxiety build up when you don't meet the high standards you set for yourself, you may also become depressed.
Different Types of Perfectionists
Classic perfectionists
Sets exceptionally high standards and strives for flawlessness in all areas of life.
Intense perfectionists
Experiences a heightened emotional response to perceived imperfections or mistakes.
Fear-of-failure perfectionists
Driven by the fear of making mistakes or failing, which can lead to procrastination.
Messy perfectionists
Struggles to maintain order in their physical environment despite perfectionistic tendencies in other areas.
Recovering perfectionists
Recognizes the negative impact of perfectionism and actively works on embracing imperfections.
What type of perfectionist are you?
Let's leave perfection to nature.
Procrastinators
Do you put off tasks until later? Procrastinators do.
Procrastinators tend to delay tasks and postpone taking action. This is often due to the fear of not meeting their high standards.
Procrastinators who always feel behind tend to be reactive to life instead of proactive. If you are always putting out fires, you will have little time and energy to create opportunities.
My fear of falling behind is why I use the 2-minute rule, which is if it takes 2 minutes do it immediately, I do it.
Procrastinators may find themselves surrounded by a mountain of clutter as they keep putting off the task of decluttering, hoping for the "perfect conditions" to tackle it.
The different types of procrastinators
Chronic procrastinator
Consistently delays tasks, often leading to a last-minute rush to complete them.
Decisional procrastinator
Postpones making decisions, even on minor matters, due to fear of making the wrong choice.
Perfectionist procrastinator
Delays tasks because of the fear of not meeting high standards.
Impulsive procrastinator
Acts on immediate desires rather than tackling important tasks, leading to procrastination.
Overwhelmed procrastinator
Feels paralyzed by the sheer volume of tasks and doesn't know where to start
The procrastinator - perfectionist connection
Understanding the connection between perfectionism and procrastination is key to addressing clutter. Perfectionists tend to procrastinate because they are afraid of not achieving their impeccable standards. This keeps you stuck!
This fear of failure can lead to feelings of discomfort, and delayed action, and as tasks are postponed, clutter accumulates.
The clutter, in turn, reinforces the fear of not being able to maintain the perfect environment, creating a cycle that is hard to break.
Some steps to move forward
How do we get beyond perfectionism and procrastination?
Mindset change
Everything begins with a thought so embrace imperfection. I touched on this at the beginning of this article. I would have gone out of business when I started making and selling art 30 years ago if I had not recognized my perfectionism was holding me back.
Trying new techniques and designs was difficult for me, due to fear I would not 'get it right'. Reproducing versions of the same old stuff was a rut I was getting into. Art is supposed to be creative, but this was not. It was boring and not sustainable and I was unhappy.
Go on, make a mess!
Feeling bold one day I decided to permit myself to make a mess. I discovered the most wonderful designs and called them happy accidents! Nowadays I will try anything! I know now this is where my magic happens.
The only way to break free from the perfectionism-procrastination cycle is to embrace imperfection. There is no such thing as perfect is what we have been told all our lives. Everything does not have to be flawless.
There are instances that good enough is sufficient. Certainly not in the area of brain surgery, surely though in the life of an artist. This shift in mindset can alleviate the fear of failure and reduce procrastination tendencies. I like to tell students to learn the rules and then break them.
What type of procrastinator are you?
What is your particular procrastination style? Some people procrastinate due to fear, while others procrastinate because they feel overwhelmed. You have to know what you are dealing with before you can find a solution
When you are drowning in clutter it's essential to break the decluttering project into smaller, more manageable tasks. Take it one step at a time. Most of us can't declutter an entire home in one swoop. It is perfectly okay to declutter one item a day if this is what you can manage.
High expectations
Lower the Bar. Lowering your standards and expectations can be liberating. Perfect is an unattainable goal, and focusing on progress, not perfection, can help you overcome procrastination and reduce clutter.
Seek support
We don't have to go it alone. Some of us are too stubborn to ask for help. This was a tough habit to change. I realized one day that getting a 6-foot-tall bookcase down a skinny winding stairway myself was not my best thought. I am about 5 feet tall. Oh, I did it though.
Then I wondered why it was so important to me to do it myself. Right? This is a whole other book!
Get your friends or family members involved in your decluttering journey. Involving others can provide accountability and motivation. Different people can also help you maintain perspective on your perfectionist tendencies.
Habits
We know that procrastination and perfectionism are linked. This connection can result in a lot of clutter for individuals who struggle with maintaining high standards. To conquer clutter and find a healthier balance, it's crucial to understand these obstacles, only then can we battle this with effective strategies.
You can break free from the perfectionism-procrastination cycle and create a more organized and stress-free living space by changing some habits.
Additional tips and insights
Declutter regularly to prevent clutter from piling up, and establish a regular decluttering routine. Do one little thing daily to keep your home clean, organized, and clutter-free. Make these acts habits.
Just as perfectionists strive for excellence in their work, apply the same mindset to maintaining a clutter-free environment.
Set Realistic Goals
Avoid Overcommitting
Great expectations can lead to great disappointments!
When your perfectionism ways rear their ugly heads, and you feel overwhelmed by the task's scale, break the project down into small steps.
Don't try to tackle your entire living space and life in one go, set realistic, achievable goals for each decluttering session.
Use tools and systems
Many people go to great lengths to declutter their lives and then do not put a good organizational system in place or change not-so-great habits.
You will find that if you start replacing not great habits with better habits you will stay decluttered and organized.
Examples of good habits:
- When you enter your home put your keys in the same place every single time and put anything you carry into your home in its proper place immediately.
- One touch rule - when you use the pair of scissors put it away, where it belongs, immediately
- 2-minute rule - when you finish a task clean up the area.
- Stack habits - while the coffee is brewing empty the dishwasher, while something is cooking spot clean something in the kitchen, when you rise in the morning, make your bed. This is habit stacking.
There is no shortage of organizing tools on the market. You need to implement the tools and systems that can help you maintain order. Find what works best for you.
Organizing includes the use of storage solutions, calendars, or to-do lists. By having an organized framework, you can reduce the stress of clutter and maintain a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Learn from mistakes
Embrace the mistakes you make! Learn from it! If you learn your lesson the first time you will likely not repeat the mistake.
Life is life. Stuff happens, all day every day. The key is to expect obstacles to pop up. I hear someone say the ether day 'life is always gonna life'. Learn to navigate your way through obstacles.
Instead of dwelling on the things you think you can't do perfectly, view them as opportunities to learn and grow. Each experience will help you refine your approach and make future decluttering projects more effective.
Self-Compassion
Show yourself the same compassion you would show a friend in need. Stop self-deprecating thoughts, if you would not say these things to a friend do not think them about yourself.
Self-compassion may take practice because perfectionists can be overly critical of themselves. Keep practicing. We were taught practice makes perfect. I am not so sure about this. I am sure if I keep practicing something I will get better at it and therefore I consider practice to be progress.
Seek professional help
If you find that your perfectionism and procrastination are severely impacting your life, seeking the guidance of a professional therapist or counselor may be needed. They can provide personalized strategies and support to address underlying issues.
You don't have to do this alone. There are many in this same boat and there are professionals and a lot of online communities to seek help and support. Be kind to yourself and celebrate your progress along the way.
Share your story
Share your experiences and strategies with others. By opening up about your journey, you can provide support and inspiration to those who are going through similar challenges. This will also motivate you to continue growing.
Practice patience
Personal transformation takes time, and breaking free from the perfectionism-procrastination cycle won't happen overnight. Be patient with yourself. It took you a lifetime to get here and you can't change it all in the blink of an eye.
Celebrate achievements
Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Each step you take to declutter and manage your perfectionism and procrastination is a victory worth acknowledging. Progress, not perfection!
Ultimately, the connection between perfectionism, procrastination, and clutter is a complex one that many people struggle with. It's not a one-size-fits-all situation, and everyone's journey to overcome these challenges will be unique. The important thing is to start taking action, even if it's small steps, and keep moving forward.
By addressing your perfectionism and procrastination tendencies and working on decluttering your life, you can create a more harmonious and balanced existence. Repeat after me - 'Progress, not perfection'.
Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. "Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.
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