Is There a Link Between Perfectionism and Procrastination?

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The author says perfectionism isn't a single entity. There are different subcategories or dimensions of perfectionism, he says. People who have high standards for themselves may not savor their successes when they reach them. The writer: If you're really driven and your whole sense of self-worth is focused on how well you do this task, that's enough to put you off ever even starting it.

We all know the feeling of scrambling at the last minute to finish a task that we could have and should have tackled much sooner. Fuschia Sirois, PhD, of Durham University, talks about why procrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not one of laziness or poor time management skills; how it can harm our mental and physical health; why it’s so tied up with guilt and shame; and how self-compassion can help us overcome it. Links Fuchsia Sirois, PhD Speaking of Psychology Home Page