The semester is coming to an end, and you’re so over doing work.
But Sunday night comes, and you’ve procrastinated again.
Then panic mode sets in. You try to type as many words and memorize as many terms as humanely possible. At 2 a.m there’s still no end in sight.
After a bit of self-loathing, you promise never to do this to yourself again…
…until next Sunday comes.
This vicious cycle is all too true for so many college students, and at this point you’ve tried it all – planners, to-do lists, calendars, everything. But, fret not, for there is hope. Here are 10 tips to help you put an end to procrastinating:
1. Keep making to-do lists, but hang them on your walls
It’s a lot harder to avoid tasks when you constantly have to look at them. Seeing your to-do lists posted on your walls will keep them fresh in your mind and motivate you to get them done.
2. Decorate Your Lists
Use colors, shapes, quotes, and stickers to personalize your to-do lists to make them more fun. There’s nothing more miserable than staring at all the things you have to do scrawled onto a piece of blank paper. Decorating your lists will make them much easier to look at (and actually start doing).
3. Plan exactly when you will get things done
Procrastinators usually lack a concept of time, which is why we put things off so easily. “There’s always tomorrow” is probably a procrastinator’s favorite saying. Try planning exactly when you will get things done. This will give you a more concrete concept of time, so you can get things done ahead of time.
4. Take breaks to stay focused
If you have trouble staying focused for long periods of time, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break. Forcing yourself to sit for hours on end just to complete one assignment is counterproductive because you’re bound to lose focus.
5. Reward yourself
Whether you’ve just written a paragraph or finished a sheet of math problems, you deserve a little reward. After you’ve finished a task, give your self a reward to stay motivated. You can treat yourself to a drink from Starbucks, your favorite snack, or by watching a funny video – whatever it is that gets you through the day.
6. Change Locations
Doing work in the same place can get really boring. Giving yourself new environments to work in will keep your mind fresh and alert. Instead of locking yourself in the library or in your room, explore buildings on campus. Or better yet, leave campus. From the Library of Congress to cute local coffee shops, D.C is filled with places that will boost your productivity.
7. Break big tasks into small, manageable chunks
Sitting down to write an entire paper is really daunting – don’t do that to yourself. If you’re working on a big project, plan it out beforehand so that you’re not stuck doing it all at once. It’s a lot easier to conquer small tasks than huge ones. For example, if you have a week to create a PowerPoint presentation, break it into sections so that you can do a little bit each day.
8. Set a timer
This is probably one of the most common methods used to combat procrastination, and when used correctly, it really works. Commit yourself to a time limit, like 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour (whatever works for you), and work without interruptions for that amount of time. That means no phone, no Facebook, no talking with friends – just X minutes of uninterrupted work.
9. Temporarily block distracting websites
As much as we love Buzzfeed, Facebook, Twitter, and Her Campus, these sites can be pretty distracting when you’re trying to buckle down and get some work done. Apps like Cold Turkey, Stay Focused, and SelfControl all allow you to temporarily block websites and eliminate distractions.
10. Hide your phone
I know, I know, this one sounds hard. For most people, their phones are like another appendage, and it can be hard to part with it for more than a few minutes. But trust me, it’s worth it. Leave your phone in your room or lock it up in the library while you focus on your work. If you really can’t part with it, put it on airplane mode to prevent texts and phone calls from coming in.
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