Hello you there, the one who's reading this very post.
Yes, you!
Before we continue with the post, I'd like to ask you:
Do you have any coming deadlines?
How many weeks are there left till your exams?
And how much time have you spent not doing something about your deadlines or your exams?
I get it, you've procrastinated a lot, and that's why you're here. I've been there myself, putting tasks off and just watching the clock go. Hour by hour. Minute by minute.
What causes procrastination?
According to experts, procrastination is actually caused by your ability (or the lack of) to regulate your emotions. We procrastinate in order to avoid emotions that we have perceived to be negative.
For example, procrastinating on writing your essay could be you trying to avoid having to deal with the tediousness of having to write an entire essay, rather than just having bad time management skills.
So how do I stop procrastinating?
Here are some tips that you can follow to help beat procrastination as much as you can.
1. Set up your environment for success
When we procrastinate, we tend to turn to alternatives like watching Netflix or scrolling TikTok. Remove these alternatives from your environment as much as you can, and instead make your environment as much of a conducive space as possible. If you have to delete TikTok off your phone, do it. Go to the library if you need a quiet space.
2. Start small
This one's my personal favourite.
If something takes just 5 minutes to complete, just do it. The emotional downside of something that takes just 5 minutes to complete is usually quite minute.
If you have a lot of homework to complete, pick the one that's the easiest or the one that will take you the least amount of time to complete. Completing that piece of homework is now your ultimate goal. Any other piece of homework counts as "bonus" accomplishments. Before you know it, you're already in a state of flow.
3. Make use of the Pomodoro technique
Read more here.
4. Get yourself an accountability buddy
Grab your bestie and set a common goal together. Hold one another accountable for this common goal, and motivate one another.
As human beings, we are easily influenced by social pressure, and this social pressure works in our favour this time round.
5. Pair your task with another activity that will make you feel better (i.e. "reward" yourself)
But use this wisely and within reason.
When I was studying in the past, I used to tell myself that I can only take a shower at the end of the day after I complete my revision or a certain horrifically dreadful essay.
Or tell yourself that you can only watch another episode of Friends after you complete your homework or revision.
6. Reflect
Ask yourself what is the emotion you are trying to avoid.
Is it anxiety from having to finally discover how much of a certain topic that you have not covered for WA?
Is it dread from having to write another long essay?
Is it low self-esteem from knowing that you might get all the questions wrong on your math tutorial?
Then consider this - what's the big deal about these emotions?
These emotions may feel negative, but they are a chance for you to make chances to your schedules and habits, or to find better solutions to help you better accomplish your tasks. You might need to go for more consultation sessions with your school teacher, or you might need a tutor (call me!) . Or it could be something as simple as starting to pay attention in class.
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