Focus on Physicians:
Insights, Ideas, and Strategies
Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Fear of Failure
You probably didn’t become a physician without a healthy dose of perfectionism. Perfectionists often suffer from impostor syndrome, fearing that they are not good enough and will eventually be exposed for all to see. And in fearing that you are not going to meet the high standards you set for yourself, you may subconsciously find ways to procrastinate as a means of avoiding that discomfort.
An earlier version of this article originally appeared on Doximity.com in December 2022, where I served as an Op-Med Fellow from 2022-2023.
You probably didn’t become a physician without a healthy dose of perfectionism. From preschool through residency and beyond, many of us have survived, thrived, and been rewarded for our perfectionist tendencies. And when you didn’t hit the mark? You may have felt the sting of your parents’ and teachers’ disappointment. Eventually, you may have learned to define yourself by your perfectionism.
Self-imposed perfectionism is on the rise, especially among people born in the 1980s and later. Outsiders may counter that “no one is perfect,” but in medicine, the drive to excel is both valued and expected. Your patients rely on your thoroughness and attention to detail to keep them safe and healthy.
But perfectionism has a dark side. When taken too far, it can cause harm to both you and your patients.
Paradoxically, perfectionism can keep you from doing your best work. It can keep you fearful and unwilling to move out of your comfort zone, even when there are better options. It can also hold you back from living your best life.
In this article, I’ll talk about how perfectionism and self criticism often go hand in hand with procrastination. And in a follow up article, I’ll give you some actionable steps that can help you to overcome the self-imposed inertia that perfectionism often creates.
Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Imposter Syndrome
It’s no wonder perfectionists often deal with impostor syndrome. When you fear you won’t meet your own high expectations, procrastination can become an unconscious way of avoiding that discomfort.
What’s more, when you fall prey to imposter syndrome, you may overlook or give up opportunities for the very growth that could nurture your joy in medicine. Learning new skills, taking on a leadership role, and discovering a position that is more aligned with your values may all fall by the wayside when you’re avoiding the discomfort of imperfection.
And when you’re uncomfortable with embracing a beginner’s mindset for fear of not being good enough, you may find yourself reluctant to take up hobbies, activities, or projects that might enrich your life and create new connections.
Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Fear of Success
It might seem counter-intuitive, but another factor holding perfectionists back is often a fear of success. This may arise from a fear of change and discomfort with the unknown. The end result may be the same: procrastination and a failure to act in your own best interests.
Breaking the Cycle of Procrastination
Fear of falling short of your own high standards often shows up in very ordinary ways, including unfinished charts, unanswered messages, and unopened emails. These small backlog items can quickly compound, creating significant stress, frustrated patients and colleagues, and, perhaps, unwelcome attention from administration.
Beating yourself up for feeling overwhelmed and disorganized only makes the problem worse, reinforcing fears of inadequacy and fueling anxiety. Ultimately, the problem comes full circle, becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
To break the cycle of fear, frustration, and despair, it’s important to remember that procrastination does not mean you are incapable or irresponsible. It’s not a failure of character or an unwillingness to do hard things. As a physician, you’ve already demonstrated resilience, discipline, and the ability to meet the extraordinarily high demands of the profession.
So how do you put this into practice and harness your perfectionism to help you overcome procrastination? Start by putting that superpower to work where it actually counts. Focus on the things that you’re putting off that make a difference. For example, clear, accurate treatment plans, operative notes, and imaging reports. These are the tasks that matter, and people are counting on you to complete them. They don’t need to be polished masterpieces, but they do need to be concise, actionable, and done.
It’s important to recognize that the same level of perfectionism doesn’t have to apply to everything that you do. It’s often the non-clinical commitments, like insurance paperwork, administrative requests, and lingering home projects, that drain your mental energy. If no one’s life or livelihood depends on these tasks being flawless, offer yourself a bit of grace. For many routine responsibilities, perfection isn’t worth the effort and may not even be possible. For those, “good and done” is usually more than enough.
At other times, the most compassionate choice for yourself, as well as the most expedient, is to delegate when you can. And sometimes, when it’s appropriate, you may simply need to say no.
In the next article, I’ll share practical tips to help you break through procrastination and get to the other side.
DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the website, for which I am grateful! Please do your own research before making any important decisions.
If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.
And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.