If you are anything like me, your biggest downfall is procrastination. Putting things off until the last minute, and then simply just not doing it all is very much my brand. I have used every excuse in the book, from “I’m not in the mood” to “oh I’ll just wake up early and do it in the morning.” Every single excuse just set me further behind. It truly is very hard to want to write an essay when interesting things are happening on Instagram. Therefore, here are some tips that have helped me along the way:
1. Set Small Goals.
Do a little bit at a time. The problem with certain projects is just that it can be daunting and time consuming. The amount of work professors give you can be ridiculous at times. So divided it into parts. Just do a little bit each day. Reading ten pages a day is more manageable than reading 50 pages in one go.
2. Remove all distractions.
Just turn off your phone. Plain and simple. Even if you have to sit in the quiet with no distractions, removing your phone will force you to do at least a little bit of work. Getting started is the hard part.
3. Work in the right environment.
Sometimes just a change of scenery will make all the difference. Get out of your room. Maybe go to the library, or even just the kitchen in your house. Being in a different environment can change your whole mood towards your project, and put you in a better headspace.
4. Focus on the result.
The project will end. Finals will eventually end. The essay will be completed. Just focus on the fact that the pain of having to endure finals, essays, and everything in between will end. Look forward to the end, because it can motivate you to to finish everything faster.
Procrastination is hard and it is something we have to work towards every day. In addition, if you just cannot bring yourself to do anything, my ultimate tip would be to wing it.