Do you ever obsess over having the perfect day, get overstimulated by the organization/ completion of it to where you procrastinate? Then try to distract yourself and build yourself up emotionally to do the task and then whenever you are ready to do it it’s too late and you’re mad at yourself? That’s been me on repeat for weeks with this painting. And I have adhd.
Hello amayakay. Yes - I (and likely many others here that struggle with perfectionism) can empathize with what you're going through. Tasks become so magnified because they have to be done "perfectly" in our minds, which can be anxiety-producing. Fortunately, I would bet that the experts at NOCD have helped many folks with perfectionism and challenges getting going on an assignment. For me (not an expert, but figure this could be helpful info) - one tactic that helps me push through procrastination is just starting the activity I don't want to do for a few minutes, and checking in after those minutes elapse. Often, once I get past the mental barrier of starting an activity, it's much easier to keep going! Secondly, I try and limit distractions like music / podcasts / etc. because while I've found they help with the emotional challenges underlying procrastination, they can also inhibit my actual productivity and work quality. Third, learning to get more comfortable with the thought of making mistakes has helped quite a bit! And lastly, I have found medication for OCD has greatly helped in conjunction with therapy - would check with your doctor, therapist, psychiatrist, etc. if you want more info. There is definitely hope for you, and you're not alone! Godspeed on your journey managing OCD. The folks here in the NOCD community are pulling for you :)
