If there’s one thing we as students have all in common, is that some of us have procrastinated on our work at least one point in our lives. On too many occasions do I see others (and myself!) leave assignments to the last minute, but as much as work sucks, what should be done must be done. So no matter if you’re currently out on vacation or have just got back in school, from recent experience, here are some useful tips:
1) Start as early as possible, even if you do plan to do just one tiny thing every single day.
Say your professor assigned you a project due on April Xth. It seems doable at first: whether it’s a 6-page paper a simple presentation. And that’s because it is -- within the timeframe they gave you. If you leave it off ‘til the week or the few days before it’s due, that’s when it becomes difficult.
The best solution to avoiding this is, rather than get into the nitty gritty of the assignment right away, just do a tiny bit of work every day. Take baby steps: plan an outline, brainstorm ideas for a video or presentation, or even just set-up the paper with the required format, works cited and all. Even if you don’t do so much everyday, it’s going to add up once crunch time comes, and you’re gonna thank yourself when you see that a substantial amount of setting up has already been done.
2) Put away all electronic devices and social media devices when going to work.
Especially if you’re a Twitter or Facebook addict and can’t stop scrolling to see the latest news or share the funniest videos, this can’t be stressed enough. Set a time to stop going on the Internet for a while, and, if possible, get to doing the paper assignments first.
When you find yourself needing to use a computer, make it a goal to have only one window with only one tab open. And set up 20-minute intervals to work, with 5-minute breaks in between in case you really need your social media fix.
3) Keep on track by keeping a planner. And keep at it!
This is vital if you have so much to do and your memory and time organizational skills still leave much to be desired. Simply write down your tasks and times to do them in a ready-to-go planner or a spare notebook everyday. Don't know when the next projects for your classes are due? Digging out or looking up the syllabi online isn't going to hurt. And set up a daily reminder on your phone to write on your planner just in case you're prone to forget.
Get to practicing these three tips, and soon enough, procrastination will become a thing of the past.
