With only a few days of classes left before spring break, midterm exams are beginning to creep up behind us. If you're anything like me, you have been pushing off studying since the semester started. You can't even fathom how you'll study 8 chapters and write 3 essays before vacation.
But before you're reminded of all your assignments that are due soon, take a second to breathe and relax- you'll get all your work done eventually. All you need to do is avoid procrastinating for the next few days and hit the books.
Now, I know how scary and impossible this might sound with all of the distractions we are surrounded by, but we can get through this and get those grades we want. Consider checking out these tips to help you get started!
1. Leave the distractions in your dorm room and go study at the library
Admit it: when you're trying to get work done in your dorm room, you easily get distracted. With your roommates walking in and out and hearing noises from the hallway, your mind starts to wander away from studying and more towards what's going on around you. In a quiet and bleak environment like the library, it's hard to become preoccupied with something other than your homework.
2. Give your phone to a friend
We can all admit that the biggest distraction in getting our work done is our phone and looking through social media. When we give our phone to a friend, we are giving away our biggest interruption in our studying, ultimately motivating us to get our work done. As hard as this can be, consider trying this to get your work done; if it becomes too difficult, turn it off and use it only for short, strict breaks.
3. Create a checklist
The best way that I have found to stop procrastinating is to make a checklist. Breaking up our work is a great way to stop the stress of having to do a long assignment all in one night. For example, if you need to read sixty pages of reading for Friday, read fifteen pages a day Monday through Thursday and check off the little box when you're done. A great tip: don't go to sleep without having all of your assignments done for the day and the boxes checked off!
4. Do your most difficult work first
When you get your hardest work done first, you are paving the way for a stress-free study sesh. Though getting through the difficult work is dreadful, the feeling of getting it all done is so fulfilling that you don't mind getting the easier assignments done!
5. Remind yourself why you're doing this
If you really have no motivation to get your work done, remember why you have the work in the first place. Whether you want to be an engineer, raise your GPA or make the dean's list, you can't achieve these goals by just laying in bed scrolling through Instagram! Remember why you are going to school and what you want to achieve, and hopefully this will motivate you to put in some hard work in your studying.
6. Don't forget to treat yourself
Before you start your work, think of something you would reward yourself for once you finish studying. Whether it be a shopping trip or getting Ben and Jerry's, give yourself some credit for your hard work. If at any time while you do your homework you feel unmotivated or discouraged, remind yourself that you have something to look forward to once you're done! You deserve it for the effort you put in! Take Donna Meagle's advice and TREAT. YO. SELF.
