Procrastination, Perfectionism, Paralysis and a Pandemic

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As my Dad used to say:

 “Spring has sprung, the rose has ris’ – I wonder where de birdees is?”

Yes, Spring. The season of new beginnings. It’s goodbye to Winter and hello to Spring flowers, baby animals. And longer days.

One thing the pandemic and its disruption can’t take away from us is the seasons.

So, I thought today was a good day to post this blog.

I love new years, new seasons, new months and new days. You may remember one of my aims is to make every day feel like New Years Day?

So what’s Spring got to do with procrastination? Nothing really. Unless you choose to link the start of the new season to your own fresh approach to doing.

Starting with good intentions

That’s right. Doing!

Ever had a moment where you’re so clear on what you want to do, or say – and then just don’t?

You’re not alone.

And I confess. I can be the queen of ‘get it done’ and ‘get it done now’. One of my nicknames is ‘Anne Action’! And my brother always said I was “like a bee buzzing, always doing something”.

Yet here I am. Being the queen of procrastination – about a blog on procrastination!

Oh, the irony!

It’s not intentional. More because I want to do a good job. The best job. To get it right first time… you name it. Maybe there’s a deadline looming. Maybe there isn’t.

Then… wham! Perfectionism kicks in. Goes beyond the point of being helpful. And before you know it, it’s turned into paralysis.

Once paralysis sets in, it can take you on a totally different ride. Double guessing. Over thinking. Self-doubt. Or feeling like an imposter. And excuses masquerading as reasons.

Doing vs Thinking

Hang on. Isn’t a good thing to do a good job? To get things right?

Certainly is. Until too much thinking gets in the way. Where you lose the balance between getting the job done well – and getting it done at all.

Take this blog. It’s been on my radar a while. Too long. The blog on procrastination that was stalled because I wanted to make sure I got it right. To do the best job… and here we are. Let’s just say ‘a while’ later.

One thing I’ve said in programs for years is:

“Do it now. Because if you put it off, it will take twice as long tomorrow and three times as long the next day.”

Sure, the best time to tackle something is ‘now’. Like following up on what needs to be done after a conversation or meeting. When we don’t do it straight away, life comes along, and before we know it, we’ve run out of day. Or just plain forgotten.

When ‘Do it Now’ leads to not doing at all

Yet being too focussed on ‘do it now’ can leave us feeling we’re always in catch-up. Especially in our busy lives.

Like the dog chasing its tail. He catches it, only to lose it a moment later. The chase continues until he stops. Usually not with the tail caught!

We stay on top of things for a moment through a combination of determination, focus, and maybe some fear. Then we’re in catch-up again.

Now we can add in the pandemic. Whatever your beliefs about it, its impact is real. Disruptive. Everywhere. Like the insidious creep of ill-health or a toxic relationship or environment.

The impact may not be obvious. Until it is. Indecisiveness. Uncertainty. Emotions you may never have experienced before.

The result? Inaction. Or uncertainty about ‘the next step’.

When Procrastination isn’t Proacrastination

So, where’s the balance point between doing and not doing? Between putting things off, and taking the pressure off when feeling totally overwhelmed?

Can it be as simple as letting things flow?

Yes it can. Because sometimes we just need to stop. To look after ourselves and our health.

We talk about fight or flight. Well, there’s something else in there too: Freeze. That’s for the times where our body and our brain really need to regroup and recharge. And when this time hits, it is ‘the thing to do’.

So the next time you think you’re procrastinating, maybe you just needed a bit of a regroup.

Celebrating ‘doing’

So in the interests of ‘getting it done’ with the pressure off ‘getting it perfect’, I’m finishing this blog. Now. Right now.

It may not be the best blog I’ve written, or will ever write. However, it’s written. Probably to be revisited somewhere in the future.

Until next time… go with the flow. Celebrate ‘doing’. And getting things done.

And let me know your stories about procrastination, perfectionism, and paralysis.

Back soon.

Anne