Stop Procrastinating

As a student, procrastination can be a huge obstacle to overcome. You may find yourself struggling to stay motivated, easily distracted, and constantly pushing off assignments until the last minute. However, there are steps you can take to break the cycle of procrastination and become a more productive and focused student.

Topics:

1. Mark how long each Task takes

2. Schedule Tasks into a Timetable

3. Don't Be Over Ambitious

4. Have a Side-To-Do List for Distractions

5. Start With Hard Tasks

6. Have a Clean Study Space

7. Set Timers (such as using the forest extension)

1. Mark how long each Task takes

One of the reasons why you may procrastinate is that tasks can seem overwhelming, especially if you're not sure how long they will take. To overcome this, try breaking down your tasks into smaller sub-tasks and estimating how long each one will take. This will help you create a more realistic schedule and give you a sense of control over your workload.

2. Schedule Tasks into a Timetable

Once you have a sense of how long each task will take, schedule them into a timetable or calendar. Be sure to prioritize your most important tasks and schedule them during times when you are most productive and focused.

3. Don't Be Over Ambitious

It's important to be realistic when setting goals and scheduling tasks. Avoid overloading yourself with too many tasks or setting unrealistic deadlines. This will only lead to frustration and burnout, and may even make you more prone to procrastination.

4. Have a side to-do list for Distractions

Distractions are a common source of procrastination for many students. To avoid getting sidetracked by social media, emails, or other distractions, create a separate to-do list for these tasks. This way, you can take a quick break to check your email or social media without getting completely off track. Check out this post for more on how to handle distractions.

5. Start with hard tasks

It's easy to get bogged down by difficult or unpleasant tasks, which can lead to procrastination. To overcome this, start your day by tackling the most challenging tasks on your to-do list. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and momentum to keep going throughout the day.

6. Have a clean study space

A cluttered or disorganized study space can be a major source of distraction and procrastination. Take the time to clean up your study area, eliminate clutter, and make sure everything you need is within reach. This will help you stay focused and avoid distractions.

7. Set timers (such as using the Forest extension)

Setting a timer can help you stay focused and productive. Use a timer app or extension, such as Forest, to set a specific amount of time for each task. During this time, avoid distractions and stay focused on the task at hand. Once the timer goes off, take a short break before moving on to the next task.