3 Strategies to Convert Perfectionist Paralysis Into Productivity
By Paula Eder
Time management tips help you break time habits that hinder your
progress. For example, think of habitual perfectionism as the ultimate time
goblin. The more of your time you feed it, the larger and more tyrannical it
becomes.
Fortunately, perfectionism is a learned behavior that you can unlearn.
You were not born a perfectionist. So commit to understanding and overcoming
perfectionism. Learn first-hand how much more pleasurable and productive
your life can become!
***
Three Strategies to Overcome Perfectionism:
- Identify the source of your perfectionist voice. Sit back and
relax, closing your eyes. Tune into the voice of your perfectionist as
if you were tuning in to a radio station from long ago. Whose voices do
you hear? Perhaps members of your family urged you to perform. Maybe
teachers imposed unrealistic demands upon you. Then again, you may have
modeled yourself upon someone who seemed larger-than-life, or whose
standards were extreme.
- Write down perfectionist messages you give yourself. By
writing down these messages, you can immediately identify the
expectations that aren't realistic. This is an important accomplishment
in itself! Don't bother trying to defend yourself. The perfectionist
time goblin isn't listening to you. Instead, envision yourself placing
each message into a burlap sack, tying it securely, and burying it in a
deep hole. Now, consciously replace each message with a realistic goal.
- Identify the underlying fear. You empower yourself every time
you identify the source of your fear. Do you fear failure, fear success,
or are you apprehensive about what will happen if you do succeed?
Whatever your fear may be, the promise that perfectionism can "fix it" is
illusory. Do you hope that being "perfect" will provide you with a measure
of control over your environment that is impossible to attain? It is both
compassionate and realistic to let that go.
And then, exercise your genuine power to replace perfectionism with
realism. Validate that your best is good enough. And make your peace with
what lies beyond your ability to fix. Fully appreciating your genuine
efforts and allowing yourself room to grow, empowers you and helps you
experience the world as a safer place.
Reducing your perfectionism is both courageous and sensible. Living more
realistically makes your time more enjoyable, and more productive, as well.
Now ask yourself: How can you replace perfectionism with productivity
today to make the best use of your time?
To take your next step, sign up for our free gift, "The New Finding Time
Boundary Template: 9 Simple, Sequential Steps to Find More Time and Recharge
Your Energy!" at
http://www.findingtime.net/ezine.html
Offered by Paula Eder, Ph.D. The Time Finder Expert.
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