How to Not Be a Procrastinator

Post in Homework Help

One of the biggest problems that people of all ages face is the habit of procrastination. Many are under the impression that they work best under pressure, and so they leave assignments for the last minute. However, this is not true. It is not possible for an individual to submit really good work without any mistakes and earn marks they deserve by doing a week long project overnight.

Doing this is also extremely stressful and tiresome. There are many perks to starting work early and completing it on time. The key to stopping procrastination requires the willpower to create a plan and stick to it. It is said that it only takes 72 days for a habit to form. If a person can choose to stop procrastinating and start working well for 72 days, this shall no longer be a problem for them.

Tips to Stop Procrastinating

  1. Focused Mind Set
  • A lot of problems that we face on a day to day basis where some of them are created by us.
  • We set up a  number of road blocks, mentally, that make completing simple and necessary tasks very difficult.
  • Students are in the habit of studying for exams last minute or completing assignments the night before submission.
  • This makes them despise homework because of the amount of work that needs to be done in such a short span of time.
  • What they do not realize is the fact that they could have done much smaller amounts of work over a long period without tiring themselves out.
  • If you are a procrastinator as well, it’s time to change your mindset.
  • From the very next assignment received, you should sit down and create a plan of action.
  • Convince yourself that there is no other way to do the work.
  • Start doing research, gather all your material, and set a routine for doing work every day till the task is complete.
  • Once all the research has been done, completing an assignment and dealing with any unforeseen problems becomes a lot easier.
  • Staying focused is not easy. It is necessary to change your mind set and become more goal oriented.
  • Teach yourself not to be satisfied with the bare minimum. Once you get used to the good results, there will be no need or want to procrastinate.

 

  1. Create Lists
  • Some students procrastinate because they do not have a physical representation of the amount of work that needs to be done.
  • One of the best ways to keep track of all homework, dates, assignments, tests and projects, is to create multiple lists.
  • This also ensures that nothing is forgotten as the day progresses.
  • Add assignments to the list the very second the teacher tells you about it.
  • This way you can start planning your day well before heading home. It will also provide a rough idea of the amount of time required to complete each assignment, research necessary.
  • There will also be time to get any necessary help if there are problems or certain things that cannot be figured out.
  • A rough list is useful. Carry a notebook or a small pad to class to jot down important points or information.
  • Create a more comprehensive and detailed list according to the amount of time required to do it, or which part of the day is preferred to complete it, etc.
  • Re-evaluate the list a few times throughout the day to check progress, make changes or rearrange tasks.
  • Ticking off assignments from a list is extremely satisfying. The more work that gets the done; the more motivation will arise to continue doing good work.

 

  1. Prioritize Work
  • When making lists, it is very important to prioritize work so that you are not left with extremely difficult work to complete in short spans of time.
  • There will always be some assignments that are more difficult than other, start working on those first.
  • Figure out all the areas that are not easy to complete, do research, create a structure to complete it and find answers to things that are not easily understood.
  • It is also important to finish tasks with more pressing deadlines first. Once you are done with these, there will be more time for other homework.
  • These are not the only factors against which work should be prioritized.
  • Some assignments are more important than others and are likely to fetch more marks.
  • Focus on those, ensure there are no mistakes or errors, and do them to the best of your abilities.
  • Prioritizing homework will also help in developing extremely useful time management skills.
  • This is a crucial skill that constantly needs to be upgraded even in work spheres.
  • Have a set schedule will create more time in your routine where more work can be done, or you can take frequent breaks to rejuvenate, instead of overworking and tiring yourself out.

 

  1. Time Yourself
  • For procrastinators, even staring at a blank wall can seem entertaining.
  • There are a number of students that get so distracted while doing homework that a simple half hour set of sums or questions takes them at least 2 hours to complete.
  • This can make assignments seem long, tedious and tiresome.
  • In order to get over this bad habit, set a timer within which any task is to be completed.
  • You are the only person who understands your mind.
  • Set a timer according to the difficulty and length of an assignment.
  • Only focus on the task at hand. Do not move from the spot till an alarm goes off, signalling that it is time to take a break or do something else.
  • Refrain from multitasking at this point. If there is something that cannot be solved, put it aside and answer another question but do not try to figure out two or three problems at the same time.
  • Set reasonable goals for yourself. Do not push too hard.
  • Initially, setting small time goals like 10 or 20 minutes goals will work more effectively.
  • You can slowly move up to longer time goals, and increase the amount of work to be done with minimal amount of breaks.
  • This is an extremely important point to remember when wondering How to do 30 Mathematics Problems in no Time at all.

 

  1. Remove Distractions
  • The one thing that makes procrastination so easy is the variety of distractions available to students.
  • Try to remove as many distractions as possible when doing homework.
  • Turn off your phone, do not access any social media sites and do not listen to any music.
  • All of this will distract your train of thought and delay progress.
  • When taking a break, it is okay to reply to text messages or make calls.
  • But it is preferable to simply do something, a little more relaxing and less strenuous on your mind and eyes.
  • Ask parents and relatives not to distract you while you’re studying.
  • Gather all relevant material well before starting so that there is no need to access the internet or search for information constantly.

 

  1. Find Motivation
  • As a student, once you’ve reached higher classes, the only motivation to be found must be created on your own.
  • So, find little ways to motivate yourself.
  • Eat a piece of chocolate after every 5 sums that have been completed
  • Reward yourself with an extra hour of TV before bed if you’ve finished all the tasks for that day.
  • These little things can really help create a mindset that is focused on working well because there are rewards and perks to it as well.
  • Remember, there should be no rewards till the goal has been reached.

Keep in mind, at the end of the day; hard work pays off. Procrastination cannot be carried on for very long, and it is best if nipped in the bud. This will allow you to have a good lifestyle, career and future.