Many people describe themselves as procrastinators. They can’t seem to get things done, always put tasks off and find it very easy to be distracted. Procrastination keeps people from being successful, from being organized and often leaves them feeling poorly about themselves and their situation.

In my experience, an overwhelming number of procrastinators are closet perfectionists, terrified of failure. Wanting to do ones best is one thing, striving for perfection very frustrating. Thoughts of attempting to meet the unachievable standards they set for themselves makes completing a task feel impossible so the motivation needed to get started is nowhere to be found.

So often, even though people claim that the perfectionist tendencies motivate them to do their best, they often fight the feeling that they aren’t good enough… The struggle with low self-esteem. As an example, perfectionists will work and work to achieve a goal, then convince themselves that they failed because it didn’t come as easily as it should have.

Rather than making us “better” perfectionism tends to reduce our creativity, playfulness/risk-taking, and problem solving skills, not to mention taking all the joy out of the task itself.

Often the way to stop being a person who procrastinates is to focus on the process of the task and remember the initial feeling of satisfaction felt when the task is completed. Note how it feels, what it says about you, how it lifts you emotionally and gives you a sense of purpose.