Do you Overthink or Procrastinate? Let AI be your rescue!
This is my 8th newsletter and by now you know how deeply passionate I am about AI. So much so that I think, walk, breathe, live AI!
But today, I want to step away from the technicalities and share something more personal—a journey that many of you might resonate with. It’s a journey of overcoming two of the most insidious barriers to productivity and mental well-being: Perfectionism and Procrastination.
The Intertwined Nature of Perfectionism and Procrastination
Now you would go…Woah Woah! Wait! How are these 2 traits related?
At first glance, perfectionism and procrastination might seem like polar opposites. Perfectionism suggests a relentless drive for flawlessness, while procrastination is the act of delaying tasks. However, these two are often intricately connected, feeding off each other in a cycle that can be paralyzing. I know this all too well because, for a long time, I was caught in this very cycle.
What is Perfectionism?
Let’s start by understanding what perfectionism really is.
If the above gif didn’t do it, here’s what I have to saw about it- Perfectionism isn’t just striving for excellence; it’s about setting standards so high that they become almost unattainable. It’s the mindset where “good enough” is never enough. Perfectionists often believe that unless something is done perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all. This mindset can infiltrate every aspect of life—from professional tasks to personal projects.
Imagine this scenario: You decide to write a LinkedIn article. The first hurdle?
Choosing the perfect topic. You spend hours, maybe even days, brainstorming ideas, rejecting each one because it’s either been done before or doesn’t seem unique enough.
Finally, you settle on a topic, but now comes the pressure of writing the perfect introduction, making sure every point is covered in the most compelling way possible, and crafting a conclusion that leaves a lasting impact. The revisions seem endless. The more you tweak, the more you feel like it’s not quite right.
And by now, you are most certainly thinking, what does AI have to do with all this?
We will get there in a bit!
How Perfectionism Hinders Progress
Here’s what often happens when perfectionism takes hold:
Starting Becomes a Challenge: The sheer weight of wanting to produce something perfect makes it hard to even begin. The blank page seems more like a daunting void than an opportunity.
Endless Revisions: Once you start, you can’t stop. Every sentence is scrutinized, every paragraph reworked, until the process of creation becomes a burden rather than a joy.
Mounting Fear of Failure: The longer you work without reaching a satisfactory result, the more the fear of failure grows. What if, after all this effort, it’s still not good enough? This fear can become so overwhelming that it leads to…
Procrastination: Faced with the impossible task of achieving perfection, you might begin to procrastinate. You delay the task, convincing yourself that you’ll do it when you have more time, or when you feel more inspired. But deep down, the real issue is that you’re afraid to face the possibility of not meeting your own unrealistic standards.
Negative Self-Talk: When procrastination sets in, it often leads to feelings of guilt and frustration. “I’ve wasted so much time!” or “Why can’t I just get this done?” These thoughts create a negative feedback loop that further saps your motivation and can lead to complete abandonment of the task.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. There were times when I felt completely stuck, unable to move forward because I was so fixated on getting everything just right. The result? Projects left unfinished, opportunities missed, and a growing sense of inadequacy. It’s a toxic cycle that can take a serious toll on your mental health.
How AI Helped Me Break the Cycle
The turning point for me came when I began incorporating AI into my workflow. This wasn’t just a casual decision; it was a deliberate effort to break free from the grip of perfectionism and procrastination. And here’s how AI became a powerful tool in my arsenal.
1. Starting with an Outline
One of the most paralyzing aspects of perfectionism is the fear of the blank page. In the past, I would often sit down to write or start a new project, only to be overwhelmed by the pressure of doing it perfectly from the get-go. But with AI, I no longer start from scratch. I use AI tools to generate an outline—a basic structure that gives me a starting point. This simple step takes away the intimidation of the blank page. Suddenly, I’m not staring into a void; I’m working with something tangible.
In my last newsletter, I shared about tools such as gamma.app that can generate a PowerPoint presentation just with a simple prompt.
The AI-generated outline is usually straightforward—nothing groundbreaking. And that’s the beauty of it. When I see the AI’s output, I often think, “I could have come up with this!” But this realization is incredibly empowering. It shows me that my ideas are just as good as what the AI produces. The outline gives me direction, a framework within which I can begin to flesh out my thoughts. This initial boost is often all I need to get the creative juices flowing.
2. Setting Realistic Goals
The AI’s suggestions are good, but they’re not perfect—and that’s okay. It’s a reminder that my work doesn’t need to be flawless from the outset. The focus shifts from creating something perfect to creating something good enough to start with.
This shift in mindset allows me to set more realistic goals. Instead of aiming to write the perfect article in one sitting, I aim to get the first draft done. I know that I can always refine and improve it later, but the key is to get started and keep moving forward.
3. Overcoming the Fear of Failure
One of the most significant ways AI has helped me is by reducing the fear of failure. When you use AI as a tool rather than a crutch, it becomes a collaborator that can help you see your own potential. For instance, when I review the AI’s suggestions or outlines, I realize that I’m perfectly capable of producing similar, if not better, content. This realization is a powerful antidote to the fear of not being good enough.
Moreover, AI allows me to experiment without the fear of judgment. If I’m unsure about a particular approach, I can ask the AI for alternatives. This experimentation is low-risk, and it often leads to creative solutions that I might not have considered otherwise. Knowing that I have this safety net encourages me to take more risks and push past the initial fear that often leads to procrastination.
4. Breaking Down Tasks into Manageable Steps
Another way AI helps me is by breaking down large, overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
For example, if I’m working on a complex project, I can use AI to help me outline the key milestones and steps needed to complete it. This not only makes the project feel less daunting but also provides a clear path forward.
When tasks are broken down into smaller steps, they’re easier to tackle, and the temptation to procrastinate diminishes. Each completed step provides a sense of accomplishment, which fuels further progress. This incremental approach is especially effective for someone like me, who has struggled with perfectionism. It allows me to focus on making steady progress rather than getting bogged down by the need for perfection at every stage.
5. Setting Boundaries and Letting Go of Perfection
Finally, AI has taught me the importance of setting boundaries—both in terms of time and effort. Perfectionism often leads to overworking, where you spend an excessive amount of time tweaking and refining your work. AI helps me set clear boundaries by providing a baseline that I can work from. Once I reach a certain point where the work is good enough, I move on.
This doesn’t mean settling for mediocrity; it means recognizing that perfection is an illusion. No piece of work is ever truly perfect, and the pursuit of perfection can often be counterproductive. By setting boundaries, I ensure that I’m not wasting time on diminishing returns. This approach has not only improved my productivity but also my mental well-being.
Conclusion: AI as a Partner in Progress
In conclusion, AI has become more than just a tool for me—it’s a partner in my creative process. It has helped me break free from the paralyzing grip of perfectionism and procrastination, allowing me to be more productive and, more importantly, kinder to myself.
The next time you find yourself stuck, whether it’s staring at a blank page or feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be perfect, consider turning to AI. It might just be the nudge you need to get started!
