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Creative anxiety, self-doubt, and procrastination with Fredrik Backman | ReThinking

If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re in good company. Fredrik Backman is the author of 11 books, including his latest hit “My Friends” and his first novel “A Man Called Ove,” which hit the New York Times bestseller list and was made into a film starring Tom Hanks. But he still struggles with self-confidence. In this episode, Fredrik speaks candidly with Adam about his battles with anxiety and procrastination, and the two discuss the psychology of pursuing happiness, building self-esteem, and living with grief. It’s a conversation unlike any other we’ve had. Follow our podcasts! ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://link.mgln.ai/kdYcyx The TED Podcasts is a collection of podcasts for the curious. The TED Podcasts videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organiz...). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com.

Fredrik BackmanguestAdam Granthost
Jun 25, 202635mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Fredrik Backman on creative anxiety, procrastination, and self-acceptance struggles

  1. Backman describes enduring, book-by-book crises of confidence—where each new project feels like a free fall regardless of past success.
  2. He reframes anxiety and moderate procrastination as functional parts of creativity, using them to edit more, think longer, and avoid rushing first ideas.
  3. Backman emphasizes valuing effort over outcomes day-to-day, shrinking the “world” to the next doable task and resisting the pressure of praise and expectations.
  4. The discussion links self-compassion to being a better partner/parent, with Backman aiming to be “okay” rather than chasing constant happiness.
  5. A lightning-round detour highlights his belief that video games can be broadly beneficial for kids and his practice of “scheduling grief” after a friend’s death.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Success doesn’t automatically produce confidence.

Backman notes that bestseller lists and awards don’t quiet anxiety; each new book resets him to uncertainty, suggesting confidence is not a reward that arrives with external validation.

Treat anxiety as a tool, not only a threat.

He tries to “make a friend” of anxiety by using it to recheck, edit, and push for improvement—while accepting it may never fully disappear.

Reframe procrastination as persistence and incubation.

Backman’s framing—“as long as you’re procrastinating, you haven’t given up yet”—pairs with Grant’s research that moderate delay can improve creativity by forcing idea incubation.

Build a thinking routine even if you lack a writing routine.

Backman reliably creates space for mental work (driving, walking in the forest with his dog), so progress continues in-head on days when words don’t land on the page.

Value effort daily; minimize obsession with outcomes.

He focuses on doing the next thing in front of him and asks, “Did I do my best today?” to stay functional—especially when praise triggers fear of not replicating past work.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

I still don't know if I wanna be a writer.

— Fredrik Backman

It's always, like, I start a new book, it's always just free fall.

— Fredrik Backman

Like, you can be on the bestseller list and you can get awards and it, it doesn't matter. Like, that's not how confidence works. It's not how anxiety works.

— Fredrik Backman

As long as you're procrastinating, you haven't given up yet.

— Fredrik Backman

It's to value effort and not outcome.

— Fredrik Backman

Law of Jante and humility vs confidenceChronic self-doubt despite acclaimCreative anxiety as a driver of craftProcrastination as incubation and “not giving up”Thinking routines vs writing routinesSelf-compassion as relational responsibilityDefensive pessimism, therapy, and burnoutScheduling grief (Lego ritual)Meaning vs happiness and success trade-offs

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