If you’ve been in college for any amount of time, and you’re like almost every other student who’s ever lived, you are no stranger to procrastination. It affects all of us. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, anywhere from 80 to 95 percent of college students procrastinate. If you’re reading this article right now and you should be doing math homework or writing a paper, you aren’t alone. How can you combat this procrastination?
Organization
One of the most important parts of getting things done is knowing what actually needs to be done. Try keeping a to-do list, whether you write it out or keep it on your phone. When you have all of your homework assignments written out for you, it’s easy to see what needs to be done and where you can start.
From your to-do list, it’s easy to make a schedule. Every morning, try sitting down and writing out the most important tasks you have to do that day. Also note when you might have the free time to do it. If you set aside time beforehand, it will be a lot easier to motivate yourself when the time actually comes to get to work.
Give Yourself Deadlines
Make sure you keep up with all of your school deadlines, such as due dates for projects or exam days. You can do this by writing it in a planner or keeping notes on your phone calendar. However, a good trick to make sure that you get things done on time is to give yourself some self-imposed deadlines. For example, if you have a paper due on a Friday, tell yourself that you’ll have it finished by Wednesday afternoon. This way, you make sure to get it done early. If for some reason you don’t get it finished by your own deadline, you’ll still have a day or two to actually get it done! This is a useful psychological trick that many people use to accomplish tasks.
No Distractions
All of us are susceptible to distraction, whether it be Instagram, Netflix, or that new book that you just can’t put down. However, these distractions are keeping you from getting your work done! There are many fun apps that limit your distractions. One example is an app called Forest. You download Forest. When you turn it on, it begins growing a tiny virtual tree. As you work, the tree continues to grow, and before long, you have a tiny forest on your device! Another added bonus to this app is the fact that you can spend virtual coins, earned by focusing, to plant real trees around the world.
Reward Yourself
It’s true that one of the best ways to get yourself to accomplish something is with external motivation. If none of the other tips work, try simply rewarding yourself for a job well done. For example, if you’ve really been wanting to see a new movie, tell yourself that you will only allow yourself to buy tickets for it after you’ve finished the next chapter in your textbook. If you’ve had a project you need to finish for a while, buy yourself a coffee once you’ve completed the project. If money is an issue, there are other ways to reward yourself! Maybe you’ll take yourself for a hike or go over to a friend’s house when you’ve finished all of your homework. Having an exciting thing to look forward to is a great way to ensure that you get your work done on time.
Forgive Yourself
It’s extremely important to be kind to yourself. Dr. Hui Michelle Zhang is a psychology professor at KSU. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and focuses on the emotional and social development of students. She says that the most important aspect of overcoming procrastination is emotional regulation. “If students feel really anxious, they may experience shame and guilt and blame themselves. I think if they can first accept and tolerate negative emotions, it’s never too late to start.” After accepting your negative thoughts and feelings about procrastination, find a way to channel that emotion into getting it done. Dr. Zhang offers some advice for that, too: “Think about strategies to regulate your emotions. Take a deep breath and say, ‘This is not as hard as I think. I am good enough. I can do this. I can ask for help if I need to.’”
Dr. Zhang also believes that focus on the future is important. “Don’t just regret not doing something,” she says. “Start now and have a future-oriented focus. Once you start it, you’ll feel better and keep going. The starting point is the most difficult.”