Procrastination Busters

He who puts off nothing till tomorrow has done a great deal (Baltasar Graci 1601-56 Spanish)

Pros/cons technique

On a piece of paper, draw up two columns, and then write down the advantages and the disadvantages of putting the assignment off. Doing this exercise helps to highlight the advantages of doing it now, and boosts your motivation to get started.

Plan it

Put time aside in your diary and place the job on your ‘things to do list' for that day.

Most of us work best with habits and routine. It can be hard to change our habits, even if we know that what we need to do is important. It's easier to avoid procrastination if we make study a part of your routine, rather than hoping the urge will magically appear.

Some people prefer to start with their least preferred or most difficult unit of study. It can be helpful to tackle the most difficult questions first, as your brain is most alert at the beginning of any study session and becomes fatigued the longer it is required. If fatigue does become a problem regular rest breaks are a good idea.

Other people prefer to start with a relatively easy lead-in task, that gets you going. Once you're in the swing of it, you may then feel ready to tackle some of the more challenging tasks.

Study grazing

Trying to manage an entire unit of study all at once can be overwhelming and put you off altogether. So, break down your study session into different parts. Try 10 or 15 minute study bursts when working on some of the most difficult material, and do the easier tasks in-between.

Students have individual preferences for how they organise their schedules, so try out these suggestions and find what works best for you.

Challenge the self-talk

Often the way we feel about a particular assignment holds us back from starting it. If you have overwhelmingly negative thoughts about your study it is a good idea to challenge these. If you have convinced yourself that something is too outrageously hard to even begin and even if you did have a go you would probably fail, it sounds like you have learned to effectively catastrophise. This is not helpful! Once we convince ourselves that something is too hard or the worst is inevitable, it becomes more difficult to begin the dreaded project.

Try the following strategy to help you keep things in perspective:

Sit down and write out what are your current worries in one column, then in a second try to challenge these.

Example

Last, but most importantly:

Logie, Golden Globe or an Oscar?

It is time to reward yourself! Think about the level of difficulty of what you have just achieved and give yourself a well-deserved reward! For instance, if you have been sitting down working hard on your maths homework for the last couple of hours, a nice reward might be to give yourself a break and watch your favourite TV show or DVD. If you have finally completed that assignment or essay, you could treat yourself to a swim, a catch up with a friend or possibly even a movie. While study is important, so is social contact. Share your experiences with friends, compare notes on the Bold and the Beautiful, share a piece of chocolate mud cake or listen to your favourite c.d. Take time out. All work and no play often makes for a lot of stress!