Okay, let’s be real. You’re probably supposed to be studying right now. After all, it is midterm season. There’s got to be something you’re supposed to be doing right now. Or at least something you could be doing right now. Saving it for later? Well, my fellow procrastinator, you are definitely not alone. Procrastination is the slow death of almost every college student and a habit that can be extremely difficult to break. We’ve all been there: choosing between watching another episode of Friend on Netflix, or studying another chapter for that test tomorrow. If you’re an especially bad procrastinator, Netflix often wins out. As does Facebook stalking that guy in your sociology class and going through your cousin’s boyfriend’s sister’s Instagram. We get it. There are a lot of things that seem way more interesting than studying. But have no fear – we have five tips to help you stop procrastinating, as told by your two favorite Gossip Girl characters.
1. Remind yourself of your goals.
We’ve all experienced that moment when you stare at your textbook and start thinking about the possibility of dropping out of college and moving to New York City to become a waitress. If Monica from Friends can do it, surely you can too. If you ever start feeling discouraged while studying, just remind yourself of your long-term goals. Not only will it serve as a good reminder as to why the work in front of you needs to be done, hopefully looking at the big picture will motivate you to start your work. Try making an inspirational quote your phone background; every time you get distracted and pick up your phone, you’ll see the quote and be reminded to focus and work harder.
2. Make a to-do list and include everything on it.
If you know you have a large pile of work that needs to get done, it can be both hard and scary to start. It’s Tuesday and you have a ton of readings and a graded homework assignment due tomorrow, a Spanish midterm Thursday and a ten paper paper due Friday. It’s extremely easy to feel overwhelmed, or even to forget to do an assignment. We get it. Making a to-do list is a great way to motivate yourself to start your work. It can help you keep track of what you need to do, and checking off items as they are completed can be extremely satisfying. Even if you have to paint your nails or do laundry, put those items on your list – they can serve as a little breaks between assignments.
3. Seek a little caffeinated help.
Take this one with a grain of salt, r sugar. Whatever you prefer. Sometimes we all need a little caffeine to help jump start our day. If you’re struggling to keep your eyes open or having trouble focusing, a cup of coffee or tea can be the perfect pick-me-up to help you get the job done. But be careful not to go too overboard, too much caffeine can sometimes cause you to feel jittery and you’ll have an even less chance of doing your work.
4. Get your snacks before you start working.
It’s definitely important to eat throughout the day. After all, your brain needs food in order to function at its best. If you’re prone to procrastinating, we’d recommend setting aside study snacks before you start doing any work. That ten-minute run to get food can often turn into a long process: doing your makeup, changing out of your sweats and into a cute outfit, asking your friends if they want to come with you. And we all know what will happen if you walk down the hall to your best friend’s room to ask if they have a snack (you’ll never come back). By having a variety of snacks already set aside for your study time, you’re less likely to find ways to procrastinate.
5. Stay hydrated.
We know, we know: everyone’s always preaching about how important it is to drink water. But they’re speaking the truth. Water helps your body and brain stay hydrated and therefore makes it easier to focus on your work. Not drinking enough water can cause you to feel tired and sluggish, which will only make you want to start doing your work even less. Not to mention, lack of water can cause serious headaches due to dehydration – you definitely won’t be getting any work done then.
Hopefully these tips will motivate you to start that pile of work you’ve been leaving for last minute. If you ever find yourself starting to procrastinate, try to remember the faces of your favorite Gossip Girl characters. As Blair Waldorf would say, take your destiny into your own hands. Get out there and make things happen!