This is how I definitely do not look when typing my blog posts.
Crap. This blog post needs to be perfect. And I only have 1 hour to write it.
Mind you, I haven’t worked out exactly what “perfect” looks like, but I’m pretty sure I’ll know it when I see it. Right?
I just want everyone to know how smart I am. I know what I’m talking about. I think. And I’m sure this perfect post will help them see that.
But first, my plant needs watering.
Ok, I’m back. 40 minutes to write my perfect blog post. What should I write about?
Hmm ... leadership? Process management? How to run a meeting? Perfectionism? Ugh, I’m not really in the mood to write about any of those things.
Why are all my ideas terrible?!
Gah. Ok, I’ll do the one about perfectionism. Deep breath. Here I go.
But wait. What do I even want to say here? What’s my brilliant insight about being a perfectionist? Does anyone even care about this? Maybe this whole blog is pointless and worthless and I’m just kidding myself that I have anything to offer.
But I promised the team I’d write a damned blog post today! I need to write a blog post.
Perfectionism. Go.
All my fellow recovering perfectionists out there know what it feels like when you get that juicy project dropped on your desk. It’s a sticky, messy problem and you know EXACTLY how to fix it. Well...maybe not exactly, but you know you’ll be able to figure it out. You can’t WAIT to work on it. And you will. As soon as you have a nice big chunk of time to work on it.
Ok, that wasn’t so bad. I’m thirsty … BRB.
Alright. 20 minutes to go. Where was I?
Ugh...I hate writing. Not quite true. When the spirit moves me ...
But somehow, that chunk of time never arrives. Day after day, you fantasize about the future you who’s going to do such an amazing job at this project and day after day, you never quite find the time. The calendar days tick by and what was once an exciting challenge slowly begins to feel like a burden that may, once and for all, expose you for the charlatan that you actually are.
“Charlatan?” What kind of cheesy cheese is that? And now I’m past the part where I frame the problem and I need to provide actual thoughts and ideas and I DON’T WANNNNAAAAAAAAAA.
That picture looks crooked.
OK, I’m back. Ten minutes left. When I got up to fix the picture, I noticed the walls looked a bit dusty, so I grabbed my Swiffer and just did a quick dusting. My wall looks so much better. It would be so awesome to clean houses for a living instead of doing THIS. Being able to see the results of my efforts nearly instantly. Knowing I’ve transformed someone’s space through my own two hands. Sigh. Also, I wouldn’t have to write blog posts anymore.
Oh no. I only have 5 minutes! This is going to be a short blog post. GO! GO! GO!!!!!
Here’s what you do to battle perfectionism when you have a big, messy task or project:
Tell a friend (with a reputation for being tough) exactly what you need to do and by when and ask them to hold you accountable.
Write down EXACTLY what “good enough” looks like for the project. How will you know when it’s done?
Schedule at least an hour on your calendar at least once a week to work on the problem. For better results, start a Zoom meeting with your mean friend and work on it quietly while they work on their own projects … it’s amazing how motivating it is to have another person in the room.
Share an ugly, raw version of your work earlier than you want to and get feedback. You will learn so much from what others can see.
If writing is involved, just write without editing as you go. Let the terrible words flow from your fingers for at least 25 minutes before allowing yourself to edit. Just. Keep. Typing.
These are habits. Hacks. But they’re practices that you can use to battle your natural tendencies that are no longer working for you.
Here’s what matters most - You are NOT a procrastinator. You are NOT a perfectionist. You have a pattern of procrastinating and wanting things to be perfect. And patterns can be broken.
Phew. Not perfect. But done. And that sure does feel good.