But, sometimes knowing you won't get it right the first time is enough to halt your progress. Self doubt, concern about mistakes, comparing oneself to others, impossibly high standards, and self criticism get in your way. You want it to be perfect right now.
There are three kinds of perfectionists:
- Self-oriented. Strict standards, strong motivation, stringent self-evaluation.
- Other-oriented. Strict and unrealistic standards set for others, stringent evaluation of others' performances.
- Socially-prescribed. Feelings they won't live up to others' expectations, external pressure for perfection, belief others view them critically.
Listen in as Tim Pychyl, PhD, shares how to deal with perfectionism and procrastination.
Dr. Tim Pychyl is the Director of the Centre for Initiatives in Education and Associate Professor of Psychology at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Tim and his students have been researching procrastination for the past 20 years (procrastination.ca).