Ever find yourself in one of those "Ugh, not today" moods about getting work done? Me too. With the new school year starting, homework and projects are in your near future. Soon enough, you'll be knee-deep in work of all sorts and kinds and struggling to keep up with the daily grind. Procrastination will seem like a splendid idea at the time, up until the point where you're scrambling to finish your math homework at 2am, just a few hours before it's due. As a student myself, I know how hard it is to deal with the temptation of procrastination, so I have some advice. Here are 4 easy-peasy ways to avoid procrastination and get the job done ahead of time!
1. Have a Reward System
What's always a fantastic way to motivate yourself? Yep, you've guessed it. Rewards and prizes. If you're finding it hard to concentrate on reading about Gatsby and Daisy's love affair or finishing those last 5 math problems, have no fear. The reward system is here! Motivate yourself to keep working by promising to have a snack after you've finished all of your math problems or read another chapter of your book. You could even place small morsels of food at the end of each page of the book to encourage yourself to keep reading! Another great reward could be spending 5 minutes playing a game on your phone for every 10 pages you read or 20 math problems you complete! The possibilities are endless.
2. Take Small Breaks
A huge issue with having a lot of work to complete is staying focused. It's hard to keep yourself motivated to complete a task if your attention isn't 100% on your project. This is why taking short breaks in between is a good and healthy practice. If you have homework in more than one subject, take a 15 minute break in between each subject to recharge your focus! This way you won't be as stressed and less inclined to finish your work with time to spare.
3. Have Someone Help You
It's a lot harder to procrastinate when you have someone watching you work. Having someone else help you can ease your stress, keep you motivated, and cut your workload in half! The two of you could even make a game out of who completes the task faster. Of course, if you're doing homework, you should probably complete it on your own. However, having a study buddy from the same class/grade as you is a great idea to lessen the urge to procrastinate!
4. Finish Your Work on the Job/at School
A main reason for procrastination is the fact that the work that needs to be completed is taking away from your relaxation time at home. After a long day of school/work, the last thing you want to do is work more. You'd rather put off whatever task lays ahead and do something fun! During freshman year, I was able to complete a lot of my homework during my lunch period and had lots more free time after school. So, if you have the opportunity, do as much of whatever needs worked on at school or at work.
And there you have it! 4, solid ways to avoid procrastination! If any of these steps sound reasonable to you, try practicing them so you can always remain ahead of your work schedule!
