The Perfectionistic Procrastinator

[Anoushik]

I feel that an enormous weight's been lifted off my shoulders! Again, jumping from random article to article on Wikipedia, I came across to procrastination. I know that I've been a procrastinator since my school years, but I never ever thought about myself as a perfectionist. In the contrary, I thought I wasn't good enough to be a perfectionist. Even my piano teacher sometimes says that I'm trying to be a perfectionist and I just ignore that remark as just something people say. But in Wikipedia, I read the curious remark that procrastination and perfectionism are closely related. Thus, I searched a bit and came to this article --> http://webhome.idirect.com/~readon/procrast.html

 

I can't believe how happy this article made me feel. I finally know what's wrong with me! After years of blame at myself that I'm just lazy (yet responsible, therefore always in stress to finish things on time and do it well) and could accomplish so much more if I just did things on time, I'm at peace with myself.

 

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Zartonk]

I realized not long ago that (to quote Frank Zappa) I are what I is. I used to bug the hell out of myself for underachieving and procrastinating. But now I know it's just my nature, and I've stopped stressing myself over it. Granted, laziness IS still guilty, but there is more to it than just laziness. Edited February 21, 2007 by Zartonk

[DominO123]

I feel that an enormous weight's been lifted off my shoulders! Again, jumping from random article to article on Wikipedia, I came across to procrastination. I know that I've been a procrastinator since my school years, but I never ever thought about myself as a perfectionist. In the contrary, I thought I wasn't good enough to be a perfectionist. Even my piano teacher sometimes says that I'm trying to be a perfectionist and I just ignore that remark as just something people say. But in Wikipedia, I read the curious remark that procrastination and perfectionism are closely related. Thus, I searched a bit and came to this article --> http://webhome.idirect.com/~readon/procrast.html

 

I can't believe how happy this article made me feel. I finally know what's wrong with me! After years of blame at myself that I'm just lazy (yet responsible, therefore always in stress to finish things on time and do it well) and could accomplish so much more if I just did things on time, I'm at peace with myself.

 

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

I doubt you have it, it affects the same cortex region which is used during your piano practices too. Had it been the cases, it would have been very difficult for you to go that far in piano. Traces of conditions do not mean you have them, just don't jump to conclusion and regardless on how it seems the condition describes you.

 

Psychological conditions are very difficult to separate, everyone has a little of this, this and that, the important thing is how you adapt. If on the other hand you feel your problem is affecting your daily life, then you could ask help, but do try behavioral therapy first unless you feel depressive(in which cases you should of course request help), it does work very well with procrastination related problems.

[vava]

Could this be an Armenian trait?

 

I know many, many bright, intelligent Armenians who tend to under achieve, and put off important tasks to the point they become unmanageable. It's so easy to procrastinate - yet it causes so much stress long term. I have these tendencies - both perfectionist and procrastination - and have learned over the years that my own well-being is risk when I'm about to fall into the traps of procrastination.

 

Bottom line, what helps me are the following two things: priority management and focus.

 

I manage my priorities in evaluating two key parameters together (very informally of course, but the thought process is there):

 

1) Task duration vs. desired completion date ratio

2) Task impact/consequence

 

The duration/completion ratio must always be below the value of 1. Items with higher duration/completion ratios must be treated in priority, depending, of course, on task impact.

 

Task impact can be evaluated using different techniques, the easiest being a simplified cost/benefit analysis – essentially, what it will cost you (in time/resources etc. compared to what you get in return, both as tangibles (income, skills, savings, future time savings, convenience, comfort etc.) and intangibles (feelings, confidence etc.). Also think about the impact of NOT accomplishing the task under the same terms as above.

 

If you wish can rate impacts on a scale – but IMO that’s just too formal, and you’ll end up getting bogged down in analysis, and not in action. The key here is that the approach above is informal and is executed intuitively – if you need to get out a paper and pen for your analysis you’ll kiss goodbye the benefits….

 

Example:

Task A takes 3 hours to complete, but must be completed in 6. The duration/completion ratio is 0.5

Task impact is moderate to high – you’ll earn 800$ by accomplishing the task, but risk annoying long-term client if you’re late.

 

Task B takes 2 hours to complete, but must be completed in 3. The duration/completion ratio is 0.67

Task impact is moderate – you’ll earn 200$ by accomplishing the task, but risk annoying a new client if you’re late.

 

In the above example, I would obviously choose to complete task B before task A – even though B has lower impact, it has a higher duration/completion ratio. More importantly, if you’re efficient, you can complete B and still have time to complete A.

 

I could go on and give other examples, but I think you must get the idea.

 

As for focus, there is no better tool to help you focus than the acknowledgment of life's reality. I have no one to count on but myself, so if I don't get it done it simply won’t get done. Understanding the impact (both negative and positive) of potential tasks, can profoundly affect your level of focus and intensity with the job at hand.

 

Boy, I really rolled on there – sorry I must have been procrastinating

 

[Anoushik]

Boy, I really rolled on there – sorry I must have been procrastinating

So true! I bet you were procrastinating and put off to do something else to write this informative response!

 

But thanks, I appreciate it

[Anoushik]

I doubt you have it, it affects the same cortex region which is used during your piano practices too. Had it been the cases, it would have been very difficult for you to go that far in piano.

But that's the thing, I could've been already working on my Masters program. Instead, I've decided to delay the audition for the program until next October! I was supposed to audition this January. Luckily I'm very close to my teacher from the university and have weekly private lessons with her. And luckily, so far she hasn't shown signs of kicking me out of her studio

 

Fadix, the reason I've gone so far in piano is solely on my talent. I've never worked hard. Never. And it's not something to be proud of. When I first got admitted into this top university, my teacher informed me that the reason they accepted me was because I'm so musical, but I lack great technique. Usually it's reversed. Usually students come with great technique and for the next years the teachers develop their musicality more. In my case, she rarely talks about music. It's all technique. But of course, developing techniqe is much easier than developing musicality (the latter is something that has to be inherent to some degree) and that was their point when they admitted me. But developing techniqe takes work. Hard work. And again, I slack off. Of course I don't plan to become a pianist but a piano teacher (and a great one!). But I need to at least get a Masters so that I can have respect from my collegues from the beginning and also teach advanced students. I know this will happen. The only thing bothering me is that it happens with delay in my case.

[SanVal]

Procrastination probably has more to do with having a high level of confidence than being a perfectionist. The perfectionism-procrastination connection doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Everybody knows that the product is better if you spend a sufficient amount of time on the project.

 

I was also a procrastinator when I did my undergraduate studies, but that wasn't because I was lazy. It was just that the caliber of the work I had to turn in didn't have to be very high, and that made me confident that I could do well when it came to crunch time. It's like that across the country...I've met people from Ivy League schools who say that there, too, schoolwork wasn't all that stressful.

 

When and if you ever start to question your abilities, the motivation to work harder will kick in. If you overdo it, however, it might backfire because you might put the grades/scores above actually delving into the material and really understanding and mastering it.