A person walks up to a garbage can, throws $9.80 inside it, then leaves. Most Laurier students nod their heads in understanding. They’ve done it too.
$9.80: the average cost* of skipping one class at Laurier to watch YouTube videos of a cat playing the piano.
As the former president of the procrastination club, I know that finding your study groove can be hard. We’re told that we just need to “work harder,” but what we actually need to do is to “work smarter.”
Here are the essential rules for surviving university as a procrastinator.
1. Make a friend in every class
If you can’t always motivate yourself, let others help you out! This is one of those rare times that we can use social pressure to our advantage by allowing our friends to help us to maintain a steady routine of going to class. Plus, it just makes going to class a more enjoyable experience.
2. Set SMART goals
One of the top reasons for procrastination is not defining what you need to get done. If your goal is to “read the textbook” and you open it to find 350 pages of text, you’re likely going to close it and go back to scrolling through Instagram. If your goal is “to read 10 pages of the textbook,” you’re more likely to actually follow through.
3. Pick courses you like, not ones you think are easy
We all have to struggle through the odd research paper (or 10), but given the choice, pick subjects you enjoy. You’re more likely to engage with content you like and understand, so if financial math is your jam, go for it! By playing to your strengths, you’ll probably see better results and be motivated to keep working.
4. Use the Pomodoro technique of studying
There’s always that one friend who says they’re going to study for 10 hours straight and actually does it. But if that’s not you, think about what you usually do instead of studying and use that as a reward. Work for 25 minutes and then spend 5 listening to Taylor Swift’s new songs. Repeat the process until your goal for the day has been accomplished.
5. Eat well, sleep well
Work is hard enough as it is, but if I’ve only had 2 hours of sleep I’m wrapping myself up in a blanket like a burrito and never leaving my room. Take the time to rejuvenate your body because having energy is vital to self-motivation.
There you have it my fellow procrastinators, the sure-fire ways to succeed from someone who understands the struggle. If I can do it, you can too!
*As calculated by author, utilizing average student tuition and course load for one semester