It’s tough being a perfectionist. Maybe you’re one too, so you know what it’s like. Even if everybody is standing at the sidelines, telling you what an amazing job you’ve done on X, Y, and Z, you’re thinking about all the things you SHOULD have been able to do as well. You can be juggling a zillion projects and still feel lazy.
I’ve been thinking about goals lately, and I suppose one of mine should be to make more of an effort recognize my accomplishments. That’s not a recent realization, but it’s something I’ve never managed to actually get on top of. Some other goals:
– Keep running at the gym, without setting specific targets. I know when I’m pushing myself and making progress, so I’ll just keep that up.
– Gather my work-related focus. I have good weeks and bad weeks, even though everything gets done when it’s supposed to. I need to turn my wifi off and work in more solid, less distracted chunks of time, though. It’s better for my brain.
– Support myself better in creative endeavors. I often find myself procrastinating without knowing why, but I think it’s because I’m subconsciously choosing to put off finishing things because I’m worried about how they’ll be received. Or reluctant to make commitments, in case I could do better if I give myself more time (perfectionism).
– Explore more. I feel like whenever I get together with people, it’s always about restaurants. We have a lot of amazing places to eat in the Twin Cities, but it’s time to do other things. Instead of spending the money on brunch, I could spend it checking out our museums! This Saturday is ‘Free First Saturday’ at the Walker Art Center, and Tuesday evenings are also free at the Minnesota History Center (Ben Franklin, Ben Franklin!), so I don’t even have to spend a buck.
– Make this winter a good one. Two winters ago was awful (everybody agrees); last winter wasn’t too bad at all, but I didn’t really do any of the things I’d planned. This year, I want to check out some more wintery activities (Art Shanties, the FREE ice rink + skate rental in St Paul, etc) as well as embracing the desire to sit in warm houses with friends.
What are your goals?
p.s. — Speaking of perfectionism, that bowl of oatbran above was not perfect. I’ve gotten used to cooking the oatbran in chocolate soymilk, so when I used water today (which is how I’d ALWAYS done it up until a couple of weeks ago), it was very disappointing. Bum.
I wish I could tell you how I found you…I think on Loobylu’s Hot&Not Wednesday. I was thrilled to find someone in the US.
I also want this winter to be a good one, although, compared to the tundra in your neck of the woods, I am shamed to call north central Florida “wintery”. We are having our first cold snap this weekend (into the 40′s). We freak out. We are ill prepared for cold. Hurricanes yes. Forest fires, yep….
I am a perfectionist, too. I would never have called myself a procrastinator until I read the bit above about not finishing things because you are concerned about how it will be received. I wise and true statement.
I feel encouraged to buckle down tomorrow and WRITE. I have tomorrow off and could hammer out serious pages. Thanks Anna!
The oatbran looks pretty good to me. Then again, I’ve never tried chocolate soymilk with mine.
I like your goals. I need to think about mine.
I definitely need to run more, and also to do more fun wintery stuff. There are beautiful icerinks in London which I should check out… Somerset House, the Natural History Museum… really beautiful locations.
I also need to spend more time on unfamiliar art. I always go back to the same galleries and gaze at the same paintings. I can see the Arnolfini Marriage, and a yellow Mark Rothko painting if I close my eyes. I need to see something new, even something I don’t much like would be good for me, I think!
I would also like to finish knitting a sweater.
Thanks for the reminder about recognising one’s accomplishments… good point, very good point.
I like your goals. I do the procrastinating bit as well and I am never sure why. My free time is usually taken up trying to decide what to do with it. I need to get more focused and actually begin to use my time well when I am outside of work. The trouble is, a lot of my goals are on hold until I move next summer and now I give myself the excuse that I can’t do anything now when I really could do a few things. Ramble ramble ramble…..