✅ Today’s checklist:
- Let go of perfectionism
- Kick your procrastination habit
- TA subscriber Kari H. shares the best career advice she’s received
🤔 Riddle me this: If the prisoner tells a lie, he’ll be hanged; if he tells the truth, he’ll be beheaded. What can he say to save himself? (Find the answer on the bottom).
QUICK LINKS
🚀 Productivity: How do you actually work smarter, not harder?
💡 Leadership: 5 Ways to Tap Into Your Inner Leader (and Stay True to Yourself)
🧠 Upskilling: The Fastest-Growing Job Skills of 2024 Report.
🗣️ Communication: How to speak confidently when you don’t know what you’re talking about…
💪 Inner Strength: A neuroscientist shares 6 exercises she does every day to build resilience and mental strength.
GIVEAWAY
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Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm PT on Tuesday 3/19/24.
PRODUCTIVITY
Perfectionism versus productivity
When are you going to stop waiting for Mr. Right and settle for Mr. Right Now?
Anyone who’s ever watched a romantic comedy from the 90s has probably heard some variation of this word play. But tbh, after you get all the eye rolls out of the way and really think about it, there’s something wise here.
It’s not terribly different from the enduring proverb, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Take away the birds and the romantic undertones and you’ve got a simple message about letting go of unrealistic ideals and embracing the attainable — a good takeaway if your “perfectionism” and “productivity” seem perpetually locked in a wrestling match.
Stop striving for absolute perfection and be proud of what’s perfect for right now.
Perfectionist tendencies leach productivity because “perfection” is a moving target.
You’re about to turn in work that seemed perfect yesterday, but it suddenly looks to you like garbage. It needs more work! A lot more work.
On the other hand, there are obvious perks to wanting to do your best.
Compromise by adding limiting parameters.
Here are a few attainable “perfection modifications” to try out:
“Perfect for what I need to accomplish here”
Limiting parameter: Objectives
Determine if your work is finished using documented objectives instead of your perception of its quality. Chances are, if it satisfies all your objectives, it’s also high quality.
This approach helps separate improvements that might benefit the project from “improvements” that only take up time and enable a cycle of perfectionism.
⭐ Tip: You can also use a big-picture purpose for this modifier.
If you’re focused on the true point of what you’re doing, you’ll be better prepared to separate valuable tasks from busy-work tasks.
“Perfect for right now”
Limiting parameter: Time
- Before you start, establish a deadline or a timeframe you’ll spend on the project.
- Share it with an accountability partner.
- If you find yourself grasping for more time, take a moment to define exactly what improvements you want to make.
- Weigh the benefits of those improvements against the costs of missing your deadline.
- If you decide to proceed with the improvements, give yourself a few hours to complete them before calling the project perfect for right now.
⭐ Tip: If you find it helpful and it’s realistic for the project in question, give yourself permission to revisit it later to make some improvements.
This will make letting go easier, and when you revisit the project, you might have different feelings about the additional work you wanted to do.
“Perfect enough to move on”
Limiting parameter: Opportunity cost
We’re all painfully aware that time is a finite resource. Spending time on one thing means you’re not spending it on something else.
If you’re taking more time than you planned to use on a project, consider where you’re getting that extra time.
What important work or personal life activities get less time?
Weigh what you get from spending extra time on a project against what you get from moving on to other things in your life.
SWAG
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- “The ease of setting up a shop where a variety of ~200 associates could pick their own gift – that is delivered with the same settings/messages was SO helpful and exactly what we were looking for. Their customer service team was very helpful and responsive with any questions.” — Liz M.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE
TA Subscriber Liz wants to stop procrastinating
“The biggest challenge I’m currently facing is overcoming procrastination. Even when a deadline looms, I indulge in every possible distraction from the task at hand.”
Heard, Liz. Procrastination is a powerful beast, immune even to the threat of a looming deadline. All the logical and/or desperate pleas you toss its way just bounce off its thick hide.
Here’s what it doesn’t want you to know: Procrastination isn’t your real target. It’s the reason why you procrastinate.
“Procrastination” describes one thing, one end result, that stems from many different and deeply personal sources.
So. Why are you procrastinating?
Seriously. Think about it. I know it’s hard, but it will help.
When I ask myself this question, I usually hear a whiny little voice: Because I don’t want to. It takes many rounds of repeating, “Okay, but why?” before I arrive at anything clarifying.
Finding the why behind your procrastination is the key to destroying it—by nipping it in the bud, so to speak.
And getting into the habit of examining your procrastination is key to managing it in the long run, because you may identify a different why each time you notice your procrastination.
You may find it helpful to make note of these common sources of procrastination as you start your own questioning:
- High stakes (You’re delaying feeling overwhelmed and intimidated.)
- High stress (You don’t feel ready to open this can of worms.)
- Unrealistic expectations (Your perfectionist tendencies lead to task inflation. See above!)
- Vague expectations (You’re not crystal clear on what you’re even supposed to be starting.)
- Negative expectations (You expect that everything that could go wrong will go wrong.)
- Disinterest (You can’t muster any enthusiasm about the task.)
- Opportunity cost (There are so many things you need/want to do more.)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Do the right things well
If you keep putting your tasks off, you may need to revamp your to-do list system — that’s where monday.com comes in.
It’s perfect for anyone who is struggling to…
- Prioritize tasks
- Fight overwhelm due to the amount of projects flying around
- Keep teammates on the same page
- Relay and receive project instructions and updates
- Manage time effectively
You can customize your space, color code, set deadlines, collaborate with teammates, and more.
Like any tool, we suggest you try it out for yourself to see if it covers all your bases.
SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
STAFF PICKS
Stuff we’re loving this week
😂 Virtual Family Feud is one of the most popular (and super fun) games you can play with your team. Have some laughs and build stronger bonds.
📚 In Option B, Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant offer a compelling roadmap for finding strength, resilience, and joy in the face of life’s toughest challenges
🧥 This blazer comes in 3 colors and is easy to dress up and down.
🌿 This free app rewards you up to $30 in cash each month, just for spending more mindfully.
JUST FOR FUN
