Procrastination is a universal feeling that I believe everyone has or will experience at some point in their everyday life. Whether it be at work, school, or even at home, there are some tasks that you just don’t feel like accomplishing right away.
I want to point out that there is a difference between procrastinating and being a procrastinator. I consider myself a professional procrastinator. I’ve been this way since high school, and I hoped that it would somehow disappear once I got to college (update: it doesn’t work that way).
Procrastination is a hard habit to break. Here are some methods that I have found help the most to relieve my procrastination.
Don’t do homework in your room
I found that when I was sitting at my desk in my room trying to do work, it took extremely long to get done. I would keep finding distractions. So, I started going to public places on campus like the library, outdoor tables, or study rooms. I felt less distracted in these places, which meant I could get into a zone easier and fly through work. I also found it useful to turn my phone on do not disturb and listen to music.
Set specific times aside to do your work/organize
After procrastinating several assignments, it is very easy to get behind and or, forget which assignments are due on whichever day. I started marking assignments down on several calendars and an app specifically for schoolwork. This way, I know exactly what is due when it is due, and I can plan out specific days that I will complete each assignment.
Reward yourself
Something I cannot stress enough is rewarding yourself after completing something that you never imagined you would get done. After finishing a long essay or even a homework assignment that isn’t due until next week, you deserve to relax. School can be stressful, so once that stress is out of the way, treat yourself! I loved being able to tell myself “finish this
assignment and then you can watch a movie.” Coming up with rewards for doing work helped my procrastination greatly, even if it was as simple as “set aside time from 4 to 6 P.M. to do homework, and once you’re done, you can enjoy the rest of the night.”
Procrastination quite literally can overcome your entire life. Whether it be with schoolwork or work for your job, even work around the house. It is a very difficult habit to manage. It takes time to assess your procrastination situation and figure out what works for you.
I hope that you can take some of the advice I gave and use it to better your lifestyle!