We have hit that time of the year, and no it is not the most wonderful (Christmas music joke anyone)? It is finals time! I recently just completed a huge research paper which feels amazing, but it took awhile for me to get to, AND I knew about it for THREE MONTHS. Sigh. Anyone else have a week's worth of work, and on the last day to possibly turn it in, you rush to do everything? Procrastination can leave you feeling a bit burnt out and not wanting to do anymore schoolwork, causing the whole vicious cycle to start again. I know there are a bunch of procrastination tips on the internet, but I'm not here to bore you with a long list. Here are 6 real, simple tips that always works for me when I'm caught in a work rut!

1. Buy a planner!!!!!!

First thing's first, you gotta get yourself organized! I don't know about you, but I can't keep track of every due date, test date, speech date, etc. in my head. I'll mix them up! I'm a writer when it comes to everything, and I have to write things down, and so should you! Trust me, even if you think you're going to remember, or you are so sure that you have the date bookmarked in your head, YOU WILL FORGET. And lemme tell you, late assignments do not equal good grades. Do yourself a favor, print off your class syllabus, and write down every due date. ORGANIZE YOUR DUE DATES!

2. Prioritize your work according to due dates.

Now that you know your due dates and have them all written down and organized, you can prioritize. Double check your due dates and see which assignments need to be turned in sooner. I delegate my assignments depending on how much time one takes. For example, I knew this research paper was due in April, and knew it had to be a decent amount of pages in length. I chose to start that over my little discussion for mythology, even though the discussion was technically due first. Why? Because my research paper would take longer to complete, while my discussion I could do in less than an hour. Once you start thinking in terms of which assignment is due when and what takes the most time, you can effectively decide which assignment to do first. It also teaches you how to time manage, which is an important skill to have!

3. Set time slots to study for each class!

One thing I can't emphasize enough is not to do all of the work for all your classes in one sitting! It's too much, and your brain will fry. You'll let work pile up again, and we are back on the procrastinating train! Once I know which assignments I have to do first, I set up blocks of time in my schedule to work on that assignment, and just that assignment. I'll block out 2 hours on a day where I have free time to work on that research paper, and just that. Maybe 2 hours in the evening, I'll block out time for a different assignment. I never do multiple assignments at the same time. It's an easy way to feel overwhelmed, and I try to avoid that with these schedules.

4. Go somewhere you know you will study!

This is the part that I still struggle with today! I'll know which assignment I want to start on, have the time frame blocked out for it, yet it still doesn't get done. I stay at home re-watching How I Met Your Mother 17 times instead. Personally, I cannot stay home and study. There are too many distractions. You have family members, the TV, your phone, even your room can be a distraction. I would actually lay in bed doing nothing, rather than start my assignments. Go somewhere where you know you won't be distracted. The school library, a coffee shop, wherever! Go somewhere where the environment is best and set up for you to study! Once you say in your mind that you are leaving to study and study only, it will be set in your mind as a goal you have to complete!

5. Print out and review rubrics.

Sometimes, when I'm still not in the working mood, I'll just reread rubrics and assignment guidelines. Reading what is required of me, when it is due, and what this assignment needs to include really gets my head in the game. It also is a good tool for when I just don't know where to start with an assignment. Feel free to take a double, triple, or even quadruple look at your assignment guidelines and what you'll be graded on. Most of the time, it is enough to motivate me to get started because I want all the points I can get!

6. Don't forget to take breaks!

Now don't let this get out of control. If you're taking a break every time you write a sentence, you need to regroup and refocus! But don't not take a break! Breaks are good! They clear your mind and are little rewards for when you complete a few pages, or read a long chapter! Breaks keep you from feeling burnt out from study sessions! I took breaks every time my paper used a new source and citation (I reused a lot of citations in this paper guys!). Have a separate break schedule. Tell yourself if you finish 3 pages, you get a break! Read half of a 30 page chapter, take a break! Don't try to go 110% for 2 hours straight. You'll just feel worn out!

You might have heard of these tips before, and a lot of them might seem like cliches, but there is a reason they are repeated by everyone I know, and most likely everyone you know! They work! Now be warned, these 6 tips can't always cure procrastination, but they can help treat it! The only person who can truly do your work for you is you! You have to want it! If you need any extra motivation, just look at your student loan or tuition balance! That is also a jump start to the brain! Good luck with finals everyone!