As we are nearing the end of the year, we are also nearing the end of the semester. For many, I’m sure that means more work to do and a lot to study for. If there’s one thing I know about highschoolers and work, it’s that it is usually put off. Whenever people find that they have some daunting task to do, suddenly everything but said task become much more interesting. Usually you’d put the task off until the last minute, especially if it’s math work if you’re like me (I don’t advise to follow this practice). When it comes to school though, procrastinating on anything is a big problem. I often found that when I procrastinate, the quality of my work goes down because I have to rush through it. Not only that, but I get increasingly stressed out when I procrastinate. Everyone procrastinates at one point or another. So how do you beat procrastination? Well, I’ve come up with a few tips that will hopefully help you (and me) out.
1. Cut off all distractions. By distractions, I mean anything that could make you un-focus from what you are supposed to be working on. In other words, pretty much all forms of social media and the internet should be away from you. Even your phone should be away from you when you do your homework or project. If you have your phone while you’re doing work, chances are you’ll find yourself texting your friends or just playing around with your phone in general instead of what you’re supposed to be doing. When I say social media, I do mean everything. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. are all forms of social media, and although are enjoyable, they can easily distract you for hours from your initial task. So If you want to get work done, cut off all distractions. You can do this by putting your phone out of reach from you, staying away from any electronic device that has access to the internet, and finally just finding a place where you think you can do you best work without problems.
2. Prioritize.
Ask yourself what’s most important and has to be finished first by making a list. Prioritizing can show you just what needs to be done, and when, so you have an idea of what you need to start doing. Then make goals with your list, and make sure they have deadlines. Finally, break the goals into small pieces. Some people procrastinate because they feel that the task they have to do is too much to handle, and is overwhelming. If you break the goal into small pieces, doing things step by step at a certain pace then the task will be much easily handled. Stay committed to your goals as well, otherwise making them was pointless.
3. Visualize what you want to achieve.
With a goal in mind, you should also have an idea of what you want your final product of work to look like. If you want it to look good, you have to put work into it, and not the kind of quality that you’d get from doing something last minute. Visualizing and planning out what you want the end result to be will help you at least be motivated enough to finish.
4. Do some of it in class.
If you’re given time in class to finish your homework, then actually do it. Don’t slack off or talk with your friends, that will just leave you with more work to do when you get home. If you do some of your work when you’re in class, then you’ll have less to do when you get home, leaving you to do what you wish. If you have a spare, you can even do it then.
5. Don’t make excuses.
One of the many things people who procrastinate do is make excuses for why they don’t get their work done. A common one I hear is that they didn’t have time. Granted, sometimes the excuses are valid, but many times they just aren’t. Stop making excuses and just get it done. The longer you put it off, the more your grades will suffer. Not only that, but if you keep putting it off, then it may never get done.
6. Start by doing the hardest task.
Or worst task, it doesn’t really matter. I know it sounds horrible, but if you get done the thing you hate or dread most first, then you can go on to the things that are easier to do, and you’ll have finished the more difficult things already. Also, once its all over you feel relieved because you no longer have to worry about it. So it works in a positive way.
7. Take the first step.
Once you come up with what you have to do, just start on it. You’ll never get anywhere if you don’t start anything after all. This may be the hardest step for some, but it only takes a minute to start into something fully. If you keep going, before you know it you could be done with it. And nothing satisfies like the feeling of knowing that you’ve accomplished something.
8. Finish what you started.
Some procrastinators may start something, then stop doing it all together and finish it last minute. This is another bad practice, and is just a bad habit in general. If you’re going to start on something, then just finish it instead of leaving it after only a little while of working.
9. Reward yourself for you work.
Only after you’re done everything will you feel truly accomplished enough to do something to reward yourself. It could even be your motivation to finish. Whether its through hanging out with friends or getting something to eat, rewarding yourself after you’ve done your work can make you feel great, without your consciousness telling you what you should be doing instead.
So there you have it, some tips to help you beat procrastination. If you’re reading this right now, than I hope you’re not prcrastinating. If you are, then I suggest putting some of these tips into practice. 😉 For more tips on how to stop procrastinating, check out here and here.
