Situation · Work
“I keep polishing my work and can't hand it in”
What could be going on
Polishes endlessly, can't ship: Fits exactly; check whether more work actually improves it.
Perfectionism: Fits if anything less than flawless feels like failure.
Unrelenting standards/hypercriticalness schema: Fits if your standards are higher than anyone needs.
Failure schema: Fits if you believe you will fail compared to others.
Procrastination: Fits if polishing is a way to delay the moment of judgement.
Social anxiety: Fits if your fear is mostly about being judged.
Questions to carry
- On the piece I am holding now, which part am I still changing, and who will read it?
- Picturing handing it in as it is, what do I imagine someone will say?
Also said as
- I can't ship anything until it's perfect
- why can't I finish my projects
- I keep rewriting the same report
- fear of submitting work
- I can't stop tweaking my work
- perfectionism stops me submitting work