The Psychology Behind Procrastination
Understanding the Psychology Behind Procrastination: Overcoming Perfectionism and Achieving Your Goals
Are you constantly wondering why you struggle with procrastination, especially when pursuing your passions? If you're in Brooklyn or San Diego and looking for help with procrastination, you're in the right place. In this blog post, I will delve into the psychology behind procrastination, addressing the specific needs of entrepreneurs and creative professionals. You possess a unique voice, but bringing your ideas to life can sometimes feel like an uphill battle.
Procrastination is a challenging issue, and it's important to understand its true causes. Is it laziness, a lack of talent, ideas, or ambition? While these factors can contribute, they’re often not the underlying reasons behind feeling stuck. I've found that usually, one, two, three, or even four other factors are at play.
Throughout the next month, I will share the four most common reasons for procrastination that I frequently encounter in therapy sessions.
Reason 1: The Pursuit of Perfection
Perfectionism is often associated with the desire for high-quality work and mastery of a specific craft or art form. As a therapist specializing in anxiety, I understand that a perfectionistic mindset can motivate and push you to solve problems and work tirelessly. Many icons we admire in America proudly identify as perfectionists.
However, the pursuit of perfection can have a darker side. Have you found yourself paralyzed at the starting line, unable to move forward due to your unwavering insistence on perfection?
In my experience, I've witnessed highly successful individuals who have struggled with perfectionism. They’re often late with deadlines, highly stressed out, and have lost the joy of pursuing their passion. But here's the key: extraordinary success doesn't require perfectionism. It often hampers and limits the potential of most individuals I work with. The good news is that I have seen former perfectionists adopt a different mindset – one that motivates, empowers, and helps them fulfill their potential and achieve their goals.
We all have control over our attitude toward the circumstances we face. We are not mere products of our environment or past experiences; we can shape our decisions and responses. As human beings, we can reflect on our thoughts and actions and make changes in the present, leading to different outcomes in the future.
In my therapeutic approach, I draw from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly the work of Dr. Albert Ellis, the pioneer of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), and existential and humanistic therapies. By blending these influences, I tailor my methods to address each client's unique needs based on my extensive experience. If you're looking to overcome procrastination or other limiting behaviors, stay tuned for parts 2, 3, and 4 of this series, where I will continue exploring its underlying causes. Contact me today to begin your journey toward anxiety relief and personal growth.
Julia Baum
Julia Baum is a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) specialist licensed in New York and California. Her expertise is in helping entrepreneurs, creatives, and innovators overcome extreme stress, low self-confidence, productivity blocks, and procrastination to reach their highest potential. Julia integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with existential philosophy and mindfulness techniques to effectively treat anxiety, panic, and depression. Client's have described working with Julia as "calming," "challenging," and "rewarding."