One of the main causes of procrastination is perfectionism. 

I was recently awoken to the perspective that perfectionists are procrastinators. I’ve been through various phases of perfectionism and “recovering perfectionism” throughout my life. However, I’d never identified as a “procrastinator” (read: lazy). Yet I realized this was actually very true. And with that I’ve really started to do a lot of work around unpacking my personal relationship with procrastination.

Anxiety can contribute to perfectionism, perhaps due to a related fear of failure or fear or criticism, and can prevent getting started on a project. This can be perceived as laziness. However, my fellow perfectionist procrastinators can probably attest to feeling highly motivated when they are confident in the task and the outcome.

I’ve recognized the importance of a my perspective has shifted to progress not perfection. When things seem overwhelming, my mantra has become “focus on the very next step.” Breaking larger tasks down into smaller, achievable steps has made a huge difference for me in working to overcome my perfection paralysis. 

Let’s be honest, after being in business for over one year I finally have a published website. And while it may not be perfect, it’s progress to be proud of!

pro·​cras·​ti·​nate (verb): to put off intentionally and habitually.

Apparently there really is a day or a week for everything… including procrastination. Fittingly, it seems that defining the date was put off for a while, as its origins only date back to March 2008.

Procrastination Week is celebrated during the second week in March, or whenever is convenient.

Celebration of procrastination can seem counterintuitive. The ultimate goal in celebrating this week is to put off the pressures of the daily-grind in favor of self-care. While it is impractical for many of us to put off all responsibility, this week can serve as a gentle reminder to temporarily push some tasks to the back-burner in favor of a mental and emotional break. This is not meant to be an act of laziness, rather an act of reclaiming time out of our busy lives to spend doing the things we enjoy—the things we often feel like we don’t have time for. Take some time this week to reflect on all that you do, where you might be able to delegate or ask for help, and how you can prioritize yourself more intentionally all year long!

Celebrate Procrastination Week

One great way to celebrate Procrastination Week is to take some time off, plain and simple. This week put off projects that can wait. Find time instead to prioritize self-care and doing what you want. Enjoy a break as a reward for your hard work.

If that really doesn’t resonate with you, then do the opposite! Dedicate this week to getting projects done, or for long-term planning and goal setting. This week may be just the incentive my fellow perfectionist procrastinators need to get started on things they’ve been putting off.