But they usually say this when they are NOT working under that deadline. Still other people say they like the "rush" of leaving things to the end and meeting a deadline. If you pretty much always procrastinate, and never really approach your tasks systematically, then you can't accurately say that you know you "do better" under pressure. So, in reality, they can't make a comparison about the circumstances they work best under. Virtually everyone who says this habitually procrastinates and has not completed an important academic task in which they made a plan, implemented it, had time to review, etc. I encourage you to be critical and reflective of these explanations. Others claim they "do better" when they procrastinate and "work best" under pressure. So, why do we procrastinate and, more importantly, what can we do about it?Īs suggested above, some say they procrastinate because they are lazy. Working long and hard is the opposite of lazy, so that can't be the reason we do it. In fact, when we procrastinate we often work intensely for long stretches just before our deadlines. 88-96 Why do so many people procrastinate and how do you overcome it?įor most people procrastination, irrespective of what they say, is NOT about being lazy. Source: Research and Teaching in Developmental EducationĮxcerpted from Vol. When you complete something on your to-do list, not only do you get to experience the pleasure of ticking it off, but you can reward yourself with all sorts of fun things: have a night out with friends, take a nap, or make some pancakes – even if you don’t have excellent skills in the kitchen.Classroom Resources for Addressing Procrastination, by Dominic J. Increased concentration equals increased productivity, so go put on your sneakers! Whether it’s just a stroll around the block, a session at the gym, or a sports game with friends, exercise has been proven to improve concentration levels. Get active to help you focus and feel motivated You might even want to think about having a chat with a counsellor.ĩ. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or you’re not managing the pressure as well as you could be, talk to friends or a family member. Set yourself achievable goals and a realistic time frame. If you write yourself the world’s biggest to-do list, chances are you’ll feel totally overwhelmed and you won’t want to do everything on it. Have a look at some ways to relax.ĭon’t set yourself up to fail. If you stress too much, it becomes completely counterproductive. Stress can be a useful force, up to a certain point. Set yourself a time frame for how long you need to do productive stuff before you allow yourself a break. When you need to be productive, remove potential distractions from your vicinity, such as your mobile phone or computer. Overcoming procrastination is no easy feat
Try to separate your work environment from your play environment, so that you can focus completely on one or the other.ĥ. Take time out to do something relaxing or enjoyable. It rhymes, so you know it’s a good idea! You can’t be productive during every waking moment. Balance getting stuff done with getting enough rest and having fun
If you’re only accountable to yourself, there’s no one to set you straight when you find yourself saying ‘Meh, I’ll do it later.’Ĥ. If you have some kind of accountability to someone other than yourself, you’ll be more committed to getting stuff done. Set deadlines, and get a friend to check on how you’re doing with meeting them Try to differentiate between things you need to do RIGHT NOW and others that you can put off for later.ģ. Some stuff is urgent, some things aren’t urgent just yet, and other stuff isn’t very important at all. And nothing beats the satisfaction you feel in checking things off your list once you’ve completed them. Whether you use a special diary, a scrap of paper or a to-do list app, writing down the things you need to do is one of the most effective ways of keeping track of them all.
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