We’ve all been there. Paralyzed by the fear of starting because we worry that if we can’t finish perfectly, why bother at all?
And even when we do start, the relentless pursuit of perfection keeps us endlessly tweaking and working, unable to declare anything as truly finished. But here’s the truth: while striving for flawlessness may seem admirable, it can actually hinder your progress and productivity.
What can you do about it?
We suggest timeboxing.
When you have a task or project at hand, set a specific span of time to work on it—say, 15 minutes or an hour. Once that timebox expires, consider the task done for now.
Not only does this approach inject a sense of urgency that propels you into action, but it also relieves some of the pressure. Instead of fixating on completing the entire task, you’re now focused on making as much progress as possible within the allotted time.
