20 Productive Ways to Procrastinate
I’ve done it, you’ve done it, everyone and their mother has done it. There comes a time, whether it’s four hours into a seemingly endless study session or ten minutes into writing your Art History essay, when you can’t do any more work. You’ve hit the end of your motivation and sapped your energy dry. Then the temptation begins: I could take a study break. Yeah. I’ll go on Yik Yak for a bit, or watch an episode of [fill-in-the-blank] and then go right back to work. Then “a bit” or “an episode” becomes hours and you haven’t done anything productive since you put down your highlighter.
This list can remedy that—you can get your mind off of work and give yourself a break while still being productive in some way.
1. Do some laundry (your habit of wearing underwear inside-out or of wearing the same shirt five times needs to stop).
2. Make your bed (maybe even change your sheets while you’re at it; nothing feels better than fresh sheets).
3. Call your mother (she misses you and you can vent: the definition of killing two birds with one stone).
4. Take a 30 minute power nap (make sure you set multiple alarms, otherwise you’ll sleep all afternoon).
5. Get some coffee from Opus 1 or 2 (may I recommend the mocha freeze?).
6. Read a favorite book (not the whole thing, just a few chapters).
7. Skype your friends back home (you miss them, they miss you, and they’ll cheer you up a little).
8. Take out the trash (goodness gracious, that trashcan smells).
9. Organize your desk (having a clean workspace can actually make you more productive).
10. Get a smoothie from Euphoria (the Coco Loco one is amazing, as is The Hamilton, and you can bring your own CLEAN cup and save 5%!).
11. Make origami butterflies (they’re fun and easy to make as well as methodical and relaxing! Here’s a link to instructions: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Butterfly-Origami).
12. Go for a walk in one of the glens with a friend (or a more-than-a-friend).
13. Take a shower (chances are you need one).
14. Brush your teeth (chances are you need to).
15. If your hair is long, braid it (get your hair out of your face, look cute, and relax all at the same time).
16. Go sit in the library and pretend you’re being productive (sometimes just the atmosphere will lead to actual productivity).
17. No, really. Go call your mother (I mean it).
18. Bake some cookies (delicious! Here’s a recipe for three ingredient peanut butter cookies to help you get started: http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2013/08/old-fashioned-peanut-butter-cookie-recipe.html).
19. Go for a run (no guilt involved here—you know you’re being healthy!).
20. Make lists (this feels so productive, trust me).