Welcome to the FemalExperts Podcast – Your podcast by women, for women, about women. Today we’re talking about the exciting topic of procrastination, or as we like to call it in the university and work context: Procrastination.
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A personal insight
I have to smile a little myself right now, because whenever I introduce myself somewhere and tell people that I run two companies, run a magazine and rock my role as a mentor, coach, trainer and consultant, they always look at me as if I’ve just explained the meaning of life to them. But to be honest: I’m pretty lazy!
Yes, I’m serious. It took me almost five years to write my Master’s thesis, only to finish it in three weeks. So you see, I’m the absolute deadline type. I said to my partner afterwards: If I want to do a doctorate, I’ll probably need ten years, but then I’ll pass with Summa Cum Laude.
Recognizing and naming procrastination
An important step in overcoming procrastination is to clearly identify the challenge. Things that we put down on paper lose their power over us. Suddenly they are no longer blurred and hidden behind many thoughts, but are there in front of us in black and white. Perfection is a great challenge for me. Although I know the sayings like “Better done than perfect”, they don’t really help my inner team. I have a team of skeptics in my head.
By naming the problem, I can take it apart step by step. I wonder what fear lies behind perfection and what desire is hidden behind it. The fear is that I am not prepared well enough and could disappoint my customers. The desire, on the other hand, is to always do my absolute best for my customers.
The equation of procrastination
I have therefore drawn up the following equation for myself:
- Initial impulse: I want to do my best.
- Consequence: pressure arises.
- Negative exaggeration of one’s own ambition: striving for perfection.
- The result: procrastination.
By writing this formula down for myself once, I can now slowly break it down into its individual components like a professional mathematician and find solutions for each individual step.
Practical solutions against perfectionism
Personal preliminary talk
A personal preliminary meeting helps to discuss expectations, content, organizational matters and the limits of the format. For example, there are sometimes customer requests for four hours of unconscious bias training. This is simply not feasible in the time available. This shows the limits that also apply to your values and content.
Generous time planning
I like to plan generously. I refuse short-term requests that put me under time pressure. I know that I can’t give my best like this. Instead, I plan between two weeks and three months, depending on the request. This gives me enough time to prepare and perform at my best.
Search for sparring partners
If possible, find a sparring partner. I founded FemalExperts together with my partner Dennis Jantsch, and it was the best thing I have ever done in my professional life. A harsh critic can quickly tear your concept to shreds and lead you to better results.
Online communities and working sessions
If you can’t find a sparring partner, watch videos on YouTube. Under the terms #workwithme or #studywithme, there are videos lasting several hours in which people simply sit at their desks and work. This can create a sense of connection. If you prefer live sessions, please get in touch via Instagram or LinkedIn. Maybe I’ll organize a “Working Hour” for the FemalExperts community.
The professional perspective
Look at your goal from the perspective of a professional. When I was writing my Master’s thesis, I imagined I was a world-famous scientist who was now really getting stuck into the studies and critically evaluating the results. This will strengthen your professional mindset and help you not to attach too much importance to the big task.
The “if…then” rule
This rule is particularly helpful when preparing. Ask yourself: “When I encounter critical questions, I react as follows…”. Or: “When I’m hit by impostor syndrome, I look for specific statistics to support my argument.” This rule helps you not to fail because of your own beliefs.
Energy follows the movement
Energy follows movement. There’s no point in making lots of plans or believing that your motivation will kick in out of the blue. As soon as you start moving, the motivation will follow.
Simply pull through
My last tip should be taken with a pinch of salt: Just go for it. In the end, I wrote my Master’s thesis within three weeks. Of course, that’s only half the truth, because in the time before that I did some research and compiled my bibliography. So I have prepared myself. Nevertheless, the work only took shape during these three weeks, and that was due to a simple technique: I got up every day and said to myself: no matter what’s coming up that day, I’ll finish a chapter.
However, this rule does not apply to everyone, as the causes of procrastination can be many and varied. For example, physical or mental illnesses can be involved, making concentrated work almost impossible. In this situation, the first thing to do is to restore your own performance with professional help.
Your feedback
In any case, I’m interested in your thoughts on this podcast episode. Which professional role will you choose for your next task? Let me know what you think about the topic of procrastination, how and when you encounter it and how you deal with it.
Until then, thank you for your time and I look forward to having you back next time.
Your Kinga
About the author
Kinga Bartczak advises, coaches and writes on female empowerment, new work culture, organizational development, systemic coaching and personal branding. She is also the managing director of UnternehmerRebellen GmbH and publisher of the FemalExperts magazine .
- Kinga Bartczakhttps://femalexperts.com/en/author/kinga-bartczak/
- Kinga Bartczakhttps://femalexperts.com/en/author/kinga-bartczak/
- Kinga Bartczakhttps://femalexperts.com/en/author/kinga-bartczak/
- Kinga Bartczakhttps://femalexperts.com/en/author/kinga-bartczak/