Do you ever get stuck doing the same work for days on end? Do you ever procrastinate to the point where you know that you’re doing it, but still can’t stop procrastinating? Do you constantly stress over the impending deadline? If your answer to all of these questions is ‘yes’, then you, my friend, have a serious problem.
This problem stems from your inability to stop procrastinating. You delay your work, pull in all-nighters, complain about the heavy course load, and somehow manage to submit your assignment. You might think that you’re the only one with this problem – however, you’re not alone.
In fact, studies have shown that 95% of college students can’t stop procrastinating. Considering how this is a constant problem with students, here’s the ultimate guide to help you stop procrastinating:
Prioritize:
Admit it: The moment you think of starting your assignment, it feels like a mountain of work that’s too overwhelming. If you want to stop procrastinating, here’s a tip: divide your work into smaller tasks that you can easily accomplish. By knowing how to prioritize, you will avoid wasting time on your secondary tasks, which can help you stop procrastinating.
One of the best ways to do this is by using the Eisenhower’s Urgent/Important Principle. Based on this, you can divide your tasks into the following categories:
- Urgent and Important (tasks you will do it immediately)
- Important, but not Urgent (tasks that you can schedule to do it later)
- Urgent, but not important (tasks you will delegate to someone else)
- Not important and not urgent (tasks that you will eliminate)
By doing this, you’ll be able to complete a huge chunk of your work, and stay motivated enough to stop procrastinating until the end. If you think that following this principle is tiresome, you can simply download the Ike app to help you prioritize and manage your tasks.
Eliminate distractions:
Giving in to distractions is tempting, but that’s just another way to procrastinate. If you want to stop procrastinating, you’ll have to eliminate these distractions. This means no social media, no YouTube videos, and no memes.
How do you fight the urge to check your phone every five seconds? The first step is to take control of your environment. Put your phone on silent and out of your arm’s reach, and clear up your space. To stop procrastinating, create your optimal study space at a library, or your study desk back home. If things get dull again, you can also change your environment.
The Two-Minute Rule:
This might sound too good to be true, but you can actually turn a tedious activity like studying into a regular habit and stop procrastinating. How? With the help of a simple tool called the Two-Minute Rule. This rule has two key ideas:
Idea #1: If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.
Kick off by doing things that are simple and easy to execute. Maybe you have a 2 page essay to complete. Start by writing the title of the essay, and planning out the content. You see, most of the tasks that you can’t stop procrastinating on are simple until they form a mountain of work you’d rather not explore.
Idea #2: When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.
Do you want to make a habit of studying? Start off by doing simple things like taking notes in the classroom, and reading them after class. Once you begin doing something, it’s easier to continue doing it, until it eventually becomes a habit. That’s why it’s useful when you want to stop procrastinating.
The Pomodoro Technique:
Developed by Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is an effective time management system. It’s deceptively simple to learn and revolutionary to use, especially when you want to stop procrastinating. The process is simple:
Make the Pomodoro: Pick 1 task to work on, set up a timer for 25 minutes, work on it for 25 minutes, and once the timer rings, take a short break. Your break can include taking breaths, meditating or stretching.
Once you’ve completed 4 Pomodoros, take a longer break before starting again.
Why is it so effective when you want to stop procrastinating? This technique can help you handle interruptions, set up a fixed amount of time-based input for each task, and keep you focused on the task at hand.
Challenge
Challenge yourself: Start by setting a goal for yourself and set a deadline. Let’s say that you have an assignment on the topic, ‘How to stop procrastinating?’. In this case, you can set a goal like writing one page in 20 minutes. Make a note of your distractions, and keep track of your progress. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to take on challenges. If TED Talks on how to stop procrastinating can inspire you, imagine how effective being surrounded by a bunch of such people would be.
Self-awareness:
We’re all tempted to slack off to some extent. The key is to keep this temptation in check. Try asking yourself: Why do I procrastinate? How can I stop procrastinating? What will happen if I don’t stop procrastinating? Think of the consequences of your actions, or in this case, a lack thereof. Forgive yourself for the procrastinating you’ve done in the past. Studies have shown that self-forgiveness can help you to feel more positive about yourself and encourage you to stop procrastinating later in the future.
Conclusion
Procrastination, if turned into a habit, can hurt your grades, as well as your future performances. To stop procrastinating, divide your work into smaller tasks, prioritize them and act on them. Don’t wait for tomorrow – do it now.
Considering how procrastination is a prevalent problem among students, we, at Samriddhi School have incorporated STEAM education, extracurricular activities and other facilities to keep our students motivated. We appreciate diversity and realize that each student is different and should be treated as a unique individual. Our constant endeavor is to help each student realize his/her full potential and discover new horizons by helping them understand their unique learning style.
For more information, contact us.