It’s that time of the semester. The work starts to pick up relentlessly. Suddenly you find yourself buried in a pile of work and midterms are approaching fast. It’s times like these a case of procrastination can hit hard. You need a way to get around that mental block fast. Here are my top tips for beating procrastination and getting your work done on time.
1. Set a timer for a task.
You may roll your eyes because it seems so simple, but it really is effective. I discovered this technique when I was in my Writing and Editing for Publication class. The professor gave us just thirty minutes in class to write a query letter for an article. I had no choice but to dive right in. No time for procrastination! Another added bonus was the fact that we were working in teams, so there was the element of (positive) peer pressure too. Which leads me to tip #2:
2. Find a study buddy.
Be careful about this one. You don’t want to study with your best friend when you know the two of you would be chatting for hours on end and not getting anything done. But it can be helpful to find a friend to hold you accountable when you’re studying or working on a project. You can ask them to text you reminders, and they can force you to text them “updates” about your progress. If you’re working on a group project, having all the group members in the same room can also facilitate work. Also consider signing up for a tutor.
3. Take the smallest possible step
I get it. If you have a boatload of homework, it can be too intimidating to even start. You might not know where to start. In cases like these, it’s helpful to treat the assignments like you’re scaling a real mountain. Every climb begins with the smallest steps. Apply this to your school work and tackle the smallest, easiest assignments on your list first. The act of completing something will give you the confidence and morale boost you need to keep going.
4. Break it down
Okay, so what if you really don’t have any small tasks? What if you only have a few major assignments? In that case, break each big task into smaller ones. For example, if you have a research paper due in two weeks, you can break down the tasks like so:
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Find three sources
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Find three more sources
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Write 2-3 possible hypotheses
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Write an introductory paragraph
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Choose a hypothesis
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Look for more sources to support your hypothesis
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Choose 3-4 main points to support your hypothesis
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Write one body paragraph
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Write two body paragraphs
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Find more sources to support your points
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Write remaining body paragraphs
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Write conclusion
5. Put on some motivating music
Sometimes music can be a distraction, especially if you’re reading a textbook. But if you’re doing certain tasks – writing the first draft of a paper, writing an email, or organizing your room – you can get away with a little music while you work. I try to pick upbeat, “powerful” music, but whatever music you enjoy listening to will work.
Hopefully with these tips you’ll be able to finally beat procrastination and sail through your to-do list.