Like most college students, I spend most of my time attempting to find a proper balance between work and play. I am extremely dedicated to my school work, however I also tend to get distracted easily. Last Sunday I genuinely spent six hours that I should have been doing biology work, watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Although I would rather spend my time goofing off, I have discovered a few ways to motivate myself when all I want to do is procrastinate.

Make a Plan

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Sometimes when I get overwhelmed by the amount of work I have I just avoid it and waste time on unnecessary activities. Even though I have a million things to do, rather than try to get them done I resort to procrastination. In order to combat this overwhelming feeling I pull out my planner to outline exactly when I am going to get each assignment accomplished. When I have a list and can literally see what I have to do, it makes it seem much more manageable.

Put Your Phone Away 

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Phones are distracting and often more interesting than the work we need to get done. Often if I have my phone next to me I am so tempted to scroll through Instagram, FaceTime a friend or fall down a YouTube hole. If I leave my phone in my bedroom I have less distractions in front of me and can be more productive.

Get Work Done in the Library 

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When I am in my room or apartment there are always a million distractions. The T.V. could be on, I could have dishes to do in the sink or my roommates could be around to hang out with. In contrast, the Library is quiet and often has fewer distractions. It is full of other people getting work done which often times helps motivate me to get work done. Additionally, having a change of scenery allows me to focus on the task at hand and not the million other things on my plate.

Procrastination is a part of life and is something most people will encounter. Often it is a lot easier to ignore our responsibilities and get occupied with other things. Trying to focus can be difficult but (unfortunately) we all must get out work done.