Here’s What We Get Wrong About Procrastination

Procrastination – we all face it, don’t we? Those tasks that perpetually linger at the bottom of your to-do list, waiting for the elusive “perfect moment” to tackle them. In this post, I’ll dive into the real reasons behind procrastination, especially the emotional fears that often hold us back.

You’ll discover actionable insights on how to break free from the perfectionism trap, embrace progress over perfection, and finally move forward with those tasks you’ve been avoiding. Let’s uncover how a simple mindset shift can transform the way you approach your goals.

Transcription:

Here’s what we get wrong about procrastination. I’m sure you’ve got that thing or those things that are always at the bottom of your To Do List. Every week you earnestly put them to the top of the To Do List again, knowing that you’ll definitely get them done this week and guess what they get deprioritised.

Deprioritised week after week and there are two reasons really why we procrastinate, one more common than the other the reason we think we procrastinate often is a kind of practical reason.

I don’t know how to do this task and sure, sometimes there’s a bit of that in there, but the second reason is the more powerful one the second reason is far more common, and that’s an emotional reason something is stopping you from taking on that task, that action that you know you need to complete that probably wouldn’t take you nearly as long as you as you fear it might.

And fear really is the important word there because quite often when you procrastinate on something, there is some level of fear of, oh, it’s not going to look right, it’s not going to be good enough I’m going to come across as salesy or whatever it might be.

That fear stops you from taking the action that you know that you need to take. How that fear often presents itself and how procrastination often presents itself is seeking perfection.

It’s not good enough, it’s not quite ready, I need to make a tweak perfectionism is just another form of procrastination so a slight mindset shift might help you breakthrough that emotional blocker to doing that task that you know you need to do. And it’s this idea that done is better than perfect.

Your social media posts will never be perfect. That marketing document will never be perfect. That sales pitch will never be perfect. The first five videos you produce for content are going to be awful, get to video 6 as quickly as possible.

But it’s so much better if this month you had 12 videos going out that were 80 % there than having zero videos that go out that still notionally might be 100% perfect further down the line.

So, have a think about that thing or things that are at the bottom of your To Do List and keep being at the bottom of your To Do List and think which fear is greater is it the fear that this thing won’t be 100 % perfect?

Or is it the fear that I still won’t move forward, I still won’t get this thing done? Give it a go today. Done is better than perfect.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Real Reasons We Procrastinate: While practical challenges like not knowing how to start a task contribute to procrastination, emotional fears—such as fear of failure or judgment are often the real culprits.
2. Perfectionism Equals Procrastination: Striving for perfection is just a sophisticated form of procrastination. The belief that something isn’t “good enough” can paralyse progress.
3. “Done Is Better Than Perfect” Mindset: Embracing this mantra allows us to prioritise action and completion over unattainable perfection. Progress breeds momentum and builds confidence.
4. The Value of Imperfect Consistency: Publishing content, even if it’s 80% perfect, can yield better results than waiting endlessly to create flawless work. Twelve “imperfect” videos trump zero perfect ones.
5. Fear vs. Growth: Reframe your fear—ask yourself which is worse: the fear of imperfection or the fear of remaining stuck? Choose growth by taking action today.

The Wrap-Up:

Procrastination often masks deeper fears that we must confront to move forward. By recognising these emotional barriers and adopting the mindset that “done is better than perfect,” you can liberate yourself from the perfectionism trap and achieve meaningful progress in your business and life.

Ready to take the first step? Book a free 45-minute coaching session with me to explore how you can tackle procrastination and implement effective strategies in your business. Together, we’ll turn intentions into actionable outcomes.