3 Things to Overcome Perfectionism-Procrastination
“Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.”
Your deadline for an upcoming project is looming. You want it to be amazing, superb, flawless. Perfection. That’s an impossible task, you think. So what do you do? You put it off for as long as possible. Procrastination. Then the due date inches closer and closer and the same thoughts permeate your mind once again.
How can someone overcome this vicious loop?
1) Recognize Analysis Paralysis
“Analysis paralysis occurs when you overthink and underwork.”
The first step in many people’s minds is to plan out the roadmap. What are the requirements? What tools will I need? What will make the client happy? And that’s great. But, it can be very easy to get lost in this phase and not get any actual work done. The most important thing in overcoming analysis paralysis is recognizing it. For example, a common occurrence could be you starting out a project by spending several hours on the plan. You then decide to reward yourself with a break, despite no work actually getting done. For sure planning is a crucial aspect to tackling any problem, but acknowledge and accept when you are spiralling into hypotheticals that are just that. Hypothetical. Remember there is only so much you can plan for in life. You don’t know until you know.
2) Stop Assuming Perfection Conditions
“The best time to start was yesterday.”
Do you know how in a physics class there are question problems with phrases like: “assume air resistance is negligible” or “assume frictionless space” or “assume ideal gas”. Well, rarely do these perfect environments exist. Just like your workspace. Rarely will you find yourself in the perfect headspace to do your work. You hear it every year for example. A student is motivated, willing and able to get back to the grind of school. But as the semester progresses they taper in productivity. It isn’t about motivation. At some point along the process, that will fade. It is about staying persistent and disciplined. Doing the things you don’t want to do. There is a reason motivation is only a noun while discipline exists as a verb. Remember that the main thing is not setting a goal. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.
3) Know When to Call it Quits
“Done is better than perfect, because perfect is never done”
The Pareto Principle, or more commonly known as the 80/20 rule, states that 20% of what you do results in 80% of your outcomes. Often utilized in business, the principle helps identify inputs that are potentially the most productive and make them the priority. This point is not to say put minimal effort in your endeavours, but to recognize when that extra work you are putting into something is futile. It’s important to recognize your project’s north star. Understanding the stakeholder’s end goal and working backwards will help minimize any unneeded labour in the process. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works wonders. There’s a reason reverse engineering exists. Lastly, remember this is not the only thing on your plate. You have other classes, projects, priorities, etc. Life is all about balance.
A Final Takeaway Thought
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
You submitted the design or handed in the code and the stakeholder loved it. Great! Perhaps the advice worked. But what if their feedback was less than satisfactory, even disappointing? Do not fret. This was not your first or last failure. Every person has failed at least once in their life. If you succeed, excellent. It is an accomplishment. If you fail, learn from it. It is an experience.
Written by William Jereza.
