Perfectionism and procrastination are two traits that often go hand in hand. Perfectionists tend to be so focused on achieving their ideal results that they put off tasks until the very last minute. They also may attempt to re-work projects multiple times, resulting in excessive delays and missed deadlines.
What Causes These Correlations?
It’s been suggested that perfectionism is linked with procrastination because of what is known as “reversal theory”. This theory states that when faced with a task, a perfectionist will initially strive to achieve maximal performance, but once they reach a certain level of success their motivation can start to decline. This could explain why they are prone to delaying or avoiding tasks altogether – as the pursuit of perfect outcomes become increasingly difficult!
How Can We Overcome These Patterns?
The first step in overcoming these patterns is understanding why we do them in the first place. Recognizing situations where we feel our motivation waning can help us take action before it’s too late. Additionally, breaking down large tasks into smaller chunks and setting reasonable deadlines for each one helps create manageable goals which decreases feelings of overwhelm. Lastly, talking to friends and family members who understand our struggles can provide much needed support and compassion during challenging times!
Overall, striving for excellence is admirable, however it’s important not to let perfection stand in the way of progress. By exploring the correlations between perfectionism and procrastination, we can develop strategies that allow us to thrive without sacrificing our mental health or wellbeing.