Let’s Talk About Types of Perfectionists + Conquering Procrastination
- Camille Jucutan
- Oct 25, 2023
- 2 min read
Oh, hey, what's going on?
This is a new blog series that I wanted to start about more serious topics about everyday life. I'm really excited about it!
I was listening a few podcasts lately and I wanted to share the knowledge about, specifically, being a perfectionist and conquering your procrastination. Hope you learn a little something more about yourself and how you can improve on things!
When I commute to work, to school, or anywhere I love to listen to a good podcast! One of my top podcasts I listen to is "Life Kit" by NPR. They talk about everything from finding your own personal style to the correct way to do your taxes. One day came across this podcast called "What kind of perfectionist are you?".
I was interested, gave it a listen, and now I can put into words how my mind thinks. This article explained a few different types of perfectionists and even included a quiz to figure out which one you might be. Here were the different types that the article listed and explained.
Intense Perfectionist
This type of perfectionist does anything to make sure that things go smoothly. This type of perfectionist strives for perfection so much that when there is the slightest of inconvenience it feels like all hell breaks loose.
In the article by Andee Tagle, she explains that “An intense perfectionist, for example, might have the goal of boarding a flight perfectly. They show up early to the airport with their boarding pass in hand. But at the first sign of trouble – a flight delay, a seat change – the intense perfectionist might lash out at the people around them, like a flight attendant or traveling companion.” (Tagle, 2023)
Classic Perfectionist
The title explains itself. This is the type of perfectionist that makes sure that all the I's are dotted and T's are crossed. They are not as, well, intense but they still can become very irritated if something is out of place.
Back to the article by Tagle, “Classic perfectionists may keep an immaculately tidy desk or a car that they're proud to show off to the people around them. However, should someone put a pen in the wrong place or spill coffee on the passenger seat, these types of perfectionists are quick to stress out.” (Tagle, 2023)
Parisian Perfectionist
This perfectionist strives to make sure that everything goes well regardless of anything. They might even sacrifice their own opinion if it means that things flow smoothly.
In the article Tagle says, “In a social group setting for example, this type is likely to be the life of the party. But when it comes time to make a group decision – say, picking a restaurant to eat or a movie to watch – a Parisian perfectionist will be quick to defer to the opinions of others to avoid conflict, even if that means foregoing a food they were craving or a movie they desperately wanted to watch.” (Tagle, 2023)
Procrastinator Perfectionist
These perfectionists are quite different because they wait until the supposed "perfect time" in order to get something done. I'm being to think I might fall into this category.
Tagle says, “Procrastinator perfectionists 'wait for the conditions to be perfect before they start' working on a project, says Morgan Schafler — which doesn't often happen. As a result, they can get stuck in their hesitation — and left unchecked, it can result in indecisiveness and inaction.” (Tagle, 2023)
Messy Perfectionist
In my own words, these perfectionists have such bright ideas and are so motivated in the beginning. As time goes on, they start to lose steam and might even drop the ideas they were initially working on.
Lastly Tagle states that “Messy perfectionists are "in love with beginnings," says Morgan Schafler. They're naturally enthusiastic and push through the anxiety of starting a new project with ease. But they can often struggle with follow-through when the tedium of continuing a project doesn't match "the perfect romanticized energy around starting." (Tagle, 2023
After I took the quiz, I realized that I was a procrastinator perfectionist. I have a bad habit of putting things off because I feel like I have to wait for the "perfect time". So, what do I do with that? What do I do with this information? I searched through Life Kit's search bar, since I was already on the website, and found an article on "How to Stop Procrastination".
In the article by Keisha "TK" Dutes and Audrey Nguyen summarize 5 things that can help with conquering procrastination. Can I just saw that this helped so much!
1.) Identify Small Goals
2.) Use Natural Patterns To Your Advantage
3.) Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself
4.) Plan Ahead
5.) Meet With A Therapist
Here's what I took away from this one. I have to keep my goals small and I'm talking daily goals. Keeping goals small and sweet can make things easier to finish and gives you a sense of accomplishment when things are getting done. I have to take advantage of the things that I do naturally whether it's finishing things early or finishing task during the evening when I'm most productive. I also have to be kind to myself and practice positive self-talk especially when things can be stressful. I have to remember to rest and make sure that I have a healthy balance in order to finish my goals. This also includes planning time to rest. Lastly, if I need to, meet with a therapist. Sometimes we need to speak with someone, sometimes even a licensed therapist, when it comes to certain things.
With acknowledging how I can better help my work ethic and my everyday life; I can better accomplish goals and have a healthier and happier state of mind.
Thank you for reading this blog post!
Source material for this post is from NPR's "Life Kit" podcasts and articles with specific credit to Andee Tagle, Keisha "TK" Dutes and Audrey Nguyen. I also recommend checking out more "Life Kit" podcast. You never know what you can learn about life and yourself!
Until then, let me know what you thought about the post on all my platforms!
Peace Out ;)
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