Feel like procrastination is holding you back in your studies? Or just want to complete your uni tasks without ‘the panic mode’?
Put your procrastination to an end by understanding what makes you avoid tasks and finding new study techniques!
Understand what makes you procrastinate
First, work out what makes you procrastinate.
Maybe the topic is boring, you lack motivation, you can’t focus, or don’t know how to do something. You might have high standards and feel if your work isn’t good enough, why bother? Or you worry about failing.
Once you work out what the reason is, start identifying when you’re procrastinating.
Pick-up when you’re procrastinating
Everyone has a different way of procrastinating.
I turn on my PlayStation and play games for hours. I have friends who like to cook or make their homes spotless! You might also get stuck watching videos on YouTube.
Whatever your favourite habit is, pick-up the signs when you’re procrastinating so you can find new ways to study.
Find new study techniques
Changing the way you approach studying can do wonders to stop procrastinating.
Try these out:
1. Break tasks into smaller chunks
Instead of trying to tackle a task all at once, do it bit-by-bit.
Try breaking an assignment into small and achievable chunks, like this:
- analyse the question
- research and make notes
- start structure
- write first draft
- review and polish.
2. Prioritise the most important/hardest task
It can be a relief to finish the hardest/most important part of your task first. If you get the hardest part done first, then you can’t avoid it!
3. Remove distractions
Put your phone into another room, find the right study environment and listen to music without lyrics. Or you can set smaller goals each study session and limit multi-tasking to cut-down distractions.
4. Reward yourself
Give yourself something to look forward to when you finish chunks and tasks. By having something to look forward to, you’ll feel like you deserve a break after your hard work.
Find out more
Check out the Overcoming procrastination Presentation to learn how to set achievable study goals to complete tasks. The presentation will run online at 6pm on Tuesday 4 September and 12pm on Wednesday 5 September 2018.
