Procrastination is always a major issue this time of year: The sudden influx of lengthy assignments and final grades means spending more time in the books or in front of computer screens. Lack of enthusiasm for the heavy workload can force students to put off doing the work to the point that it becomes problematic.
Here are some of the most common stages of procrastination:
1. THE ASSIGNING
This is the point when the project or assignment is given to the student, beginning the entire process. Students may mentally note the due date for the assignment, but quickly push it to the back of their minds, thinking, “I have plenty of time…I’ll do it later.”
2. AVOIDING THE SUBCONSCIOUS
This is any moment in time where a little voice in the back of your head is telling you to get work done while you are enjoying yourself. This is the most recurring symptom.
3. SOCIALIZING
Any occurrence where a student spends an extended amount of time with friends or associates, whether it involves going out to eat, playing sports, talking or simply relaxing in each other’s company. It’s only fair––you guys haven’t hung out all week, right?
4. SOCIAL NETWORKING
One of the biggest catalysts for procrastination is technology. Going through and analyzing every social media outlet can be addictive. This includes any amount of time spent scrolling through profiles and researching information on people that would otherwise be uninteresting or unwanted, whether it be stalking on Facebook, watching tweets or creeping on Instagram. When did that picture get so many likes? How did she get her hair like that? Who is that in your ex’s profile picture? It’s an ongoing cycle that only leads to more questions. If you’ve refreshed more than five times in the last hour, you’re procrastinating.
5. INEBRIATING
Using one or a combination of vices to relax one’s mind in preparation for a large amount of mental stress. Whether it’s cracking open a beer, smoking something or calling over a lover to lay with, this point is most dangerous in relation to not getting any work done at all. The relaxation that vices bring can be refreshing and dull the pain of work, but can also be extremely distracting if not taken in moderation.
6. EATING
This is probably the most popular––and most fun––of all procrastination symptoms. Suddenly, everything in the house becomes tasty. Preparing dinner trumps any other responsibilities on hand, and the sudden appetite never seems to go away. Eating is a very dangerous symptom of procrastination because it may not only lead to unhealthy dietary habits but also may encourage heavy sleeping.
7. SLEEPING
One of the most enjoyable symptoms of procrastination, this stage often starts as, “I’ll just take a quick nap and get to work right after,” and then ends up as, “Oh no, I have an eight page paper due in two hours!” Taking naps does provide quick energy throughout the day and helps the imagination, but too much of it will take away valuable time for gathering thoughts and planning.
8. VISUAL STIMULUS
Any and all forms of visual entertainment, from watching TV to playing video games to Netflix, makes it easier than ever to find something fun to watch. Don’t worry about Tahiry Jose or Alex Vause—they aren’t going anywhere.
9. PLAYING WARDROBE
Sometimes work becomes so cumbersome that sitting in a bedroom turns into trying on every outfit in the closet. Suddenly, future possibilities for clothing combinations become the most sensible thing to work on. What will be worn on the due date of the assignment? Might as well figure that out.
10. READING
This is one of the few semi-positive symptoms of procrastination. Although you’re still wasting time, at least you’re learning something. Reading can even help bring forth creative ideas for one’s own work, but when it completely overtakes getting work done, it can be negative.
11. CLEANING
Another one of the semi-positive symptoms. Not too much can be said about the negatives of doing this other than the fact that it cuts off minutes of valuable work time. At least your bathroom doesn’t stink anymore.
STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING PROCRASTINATION
Although procrastination can often occur without realization, there are precautions one can take to help lessen its effect.
-Write down a list of tasks that need to be accomplished, how they can be accomplished and the desired final product.
Creating a tangible goal for yourself makes the process of working through a project much easier. Have a physical checkpoint to provide direction. Check off each task as you accomplish it, and then look it over once you’ve completed the project.
-Have assigned times for when and how long your project should get attention, and take breaks in between each one.
Creating a precise schedule for work provides motivation to work at a steady pace and prevents burnouts. Taking a break in between each segment of work allows you to regain energy and focus, assess the missing pieces and move forward.
-Break the task up into smaller pieces and reward yourself with each accomplishment.
Sometimes when an eight-page paper is staring you in the face, it can be intimidating. The appearance that a task is much larger than it is causes us to be hesitant about doing it. By breaking the assignment up into smaller, more manageable pieces, students can not only work more efficiently but also keep track of progress. Also, rewarding yourself between each accomplishment heightens morale and provides motivation to move forward. If you knock out the first two pages, go ahead and have a beer or thirty minutes with a friend. Keep it fun while working.
-Mix up tasks on the list.
Sometimes doing everything in order makes an activity more mundane than it truly is. By jumping around the to-do list, you are able to prevent getting stuck in a routine where you are doing several difficult things back-to-back.
-Take your time and start earlier in the day.
These both play off of one another. The earlier you start your work in the day, the more time you have to pace yourself and prevent panic. Starting an assignment at midnight not only narrows your window of productivity but also puts more pressure on you. Working on an assignment throughout the day can also help widen your perspective, allowing you to see things later on that you may not have noticed at first.
-Turn of anything electronic or distracting.
If you’re the type of person who can’t keep your hands off of your phone for five minutes without refreshing a timeline of some sort, this applies to you. Turn off anything that you feel will continuously distract you while working. Log off all social networking sites and put your phone on “silent” or “do not disturb.” Tell anyone who may be trying to contact you what you are doing beforehand, so there is no miscommunication. If watching TV or listening to music makes the task less difficult to do, then carefully allow yourself to enjoy.
-Remove yourself from distracting settings and people.
Oftentimes, the setting we’re in and the energy that is around us can have a huge impact on the way we work. Professors often recommend that you study in a setting similar to the one that you will face during the test, and this works in two ways: One, you are giving yourself a pure environment to immerse yourself in your work; and two, you are mentally conditioning yourself for success. If you have a particular friend that always has good conversation or makes you laugh, try not to spend too much time with them while working.
-Work ahead.
This is a very underrated tip. Knowing that you already have today and tomorrow’s work done gives you a boost in confidence and allows you to devote time to other tasks. You can’t fall behind if you’re always ahead. Working ahead allows you to pace yourself further and will provide more time at the end of the assignment for you to look over mistakes and make edits.
