Procrastination, fear of failure, and perfectionism. Today, we're going to talk about these topics and basically everything in between.
I've talked about beating fear of failure and procrastination in the past, but I want to address it again because these are topics we need to talk about a lot more.
We all struggle with this!
So, I decided to look more into our mindset issues and find out what's holding us back and how to surpass it to come out stronger on the other side.
Essentially, the whole gist of this is to take it easy on yourself, and today I'll share 4 takeaways I want you to remember whenever you're:
- procrastinating
- feeling overwhelmed
- feeling like you're not good enough
As I said, we all struggle with these feelings. You're not alone.
And first and foremost, remember this: feeling overwhelmed doesn't equal laziness.
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#1 Be perfectly imperfect
Perfectionism is a real challenge. Though I continuously repeat that I'm a recovering perfectionist, I have to be honest. I still struggle with this a lot.
What happens is that sometimes we postpone taking action or doing things because we're waiting for it to be perfect, for the situation, launch, and timing to be perfect.
But the reality is that none of these are linked to the problem.
The real problem is that we're afraid to fail if we go through with it. Excuses take over to prevent us from failing, but please keep this in mind:
Perfect doesn't exist.
The trick is to make it perfectly imperfect.
You can look at it like this: if you aim for perfectionism, you will have to go through with what you're doing because that's the only way you can figure out the perfect version. And even then, you'll never reach the holy grail of perfection.
Therefore, allow yourself to learn from your experience, allow yourself to fail and evolve. Ultimately, you'll learn what matters when you're doing it.
Looking back, this is something I wished I had told myself when starting my business: to let go of perfection and instead focus on getting out there.
Doing it works a lot better than wanting it to be perfect and not doing it. So, let go a little, and do it imperfectly. Progress beats perfection anytime!
Maybe you're also interested in this: HOW TO START BEFORE YOU’RE READY & Build Unstoppable Confidence.
#2 Let your core decide, not your ego
One of the main reasons why we procrastinate is that we're too proud. We're letting our ego run the show.
Sometimes we feel too proud to ask for help or invest in something that will take us to that next level. It can be a course or specific equipment you need to perform better.
Truth be told. I was the same. For the longest time, I was in between not feeling good enough and feeling like I knew everything. Both of these were my ego and vanity taking charge and not the core of what I truly wanted to accomplish.
You can't let your ego make decisions if you run a business.
You can't let your ego make decisions if you want to make progress in your career.
It's not a hobby!
So, if you want to get better at it and stop procrastinating, you need to stop your ego from calling all the shots and ask yourself, “Is this my ego making the decisions or my core of who I am and what I want?”
Your core is on your side. It wants you to make progress. It wants to fulfill your destiny.
#3 Divide your work into blocks
If you're stuck and find yourself procrastinating, it might be because you're making the situation so complicated that you don't know where to start.
I clearly remember feeling like this when I was at the beginning of my online business. I thought I needed everything; a website, an email list, and at the same time, I thought I had to be Instagram famous, too.
What ultimately helped me overcome this overwhelming feeling was that I started to divide the work and specific tasks into blocks and focus on each of these.
If you do this, you'll get to the finish line step by step.
Because once you've made it very clear, divided your work into blocks, and turned each block into an actionable phrase, you'll understand what it is you need to do and where you might need help.
And best of all, you will no longer procrastinate because the individual steps are not that hard. It's the big picture that's hard.
Recap: Make a plan, divide it into steps, and prioritize the time it takes to create these blocks. You need this.
#4 Focus on one thing at the time
Wanting too many things at once might leave you feeling paralyzed.
It can be triggered by perfectionism if you want everything to be perfect or want everything right now.
But let's be honest. You can't be working on 10 projects at the same time. I can't even do that with a full team on board.
As my coach, Sarah, once told me: “You can have it all, but you can't have it all at the same time.”
So, remember to focus on one thing and start from there. Do it imperfectly, take the leap, and go for it. Don't let yourself get stuck by wanting it to be perfect, and don't get stuck comparing yourself to how others did what you're trying to do. Instead, use it as an inspiration.
In the end, you can only do your best with the energy you have right now. Maybe you need to adjust your goals a little and don't be afraid to make mistakes. You'll learn from them, from your experience, and that's what ultimately will help you beat procrastination.
You're allowed to struggle, but you're not allowed not to try.
Now, let's recap what you can do if you find yourself procrastinating:
- Be perfectly imperfect
- Let your core decide, not your ego
- Divide your work into blocks
- Focus on one thing at the time
Watch this episode on YouTube or listen via iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and search for episode 55 of The astForwardAmy Show.
To help you take control of your life, get stuff done and beat procrastination, access the free training, Get you Shit Together. Get structure in your day and discover which action steps you can take to get your shit together.
Let me know what you think by tagging me in your Instagram stories with @fastforwardamy.
PS. If you want all of this and more, get support, beat the odds, and change your mindset, register to join the waitlist for the next Business Freedom Elevator™️.
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