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THE LEN LESSER REPORT  

THE LEN LESSER REPORT

 

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PERFECTIONISTS OFTEN TIMES PROCRASTINATE

Are you a procrastinator? Tick- tock goes the clock. The seconds fly bye to be replaced by their cousins, the minutes/hours and before you know it the entire day has evaporated into thin air.

Most of my clients who are perfectionist are also procrastinators. Realizing that it takes a lot of effort to actually achieve the impossible they delay putting off what they can do to-day untill to-morrow. Delaying takes the stress off for a while until the dreaded- dead-line looms.

It is very hard to work with those who look for perfection because they expect you and I to be perfect. That is why most perfectionists prefer to work alone; not trusting others to try and live up to their impossible expectations. When their problems are not solved the perfectionist tend to blame others. It can’t never be their fault ; They are perfect.

The males I have counselled are not perfeciontist choosing instead to be procrastinators. We do not have to try and be perfect. Being only poor mortals we all have flaws that we should recognize and embrace. There is a price for procrastination; When you constantly defer and try and do things in the last minute eventually your life can be very stressful; It isn’t about thriving; it is all about surviving.

In my counseling practice I find that many of my female clients are perfectionists/procrastinators. Stress is part and parcel of their daily lives. Getting a good nights sleep is sure hard to do when you try and be the perfect daughter/spouse/ mother all rolled up into one overworked, underpaid, un-appreciated "Super Women".

For the most part women are pleasers. They have been taught to please their parents/ husbands/children. They too often neglect their own needs. Ultimately they have to learn to please themselves.

If we are organized life becomes oh so much simpler. Don’t put it down, put it away work ethic makes our lives a whole lot easier to manage.

Try and remember that: ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery; Today we call the present'.

It’s a gift. Don’t procrastinate.


Len Lesser is an education, career counselor in Dorchester, Ont.

Len Lesser

Len Lesser posts a report every week

You can email Len at lenlesser@hotmail.com