How to Deal With Procrastination

Procrastination. Arguably one of the most dangerous things you can experience as a student. One minute you have a week for something, then a day, “a couple of hours is enough”, and pretty soon it’s 3 AM, and “the teacher should’ve given us more time for this.”

And trust me, I know most of us have tried TikTok’s most popular ways to avoid procrastination, and this might just be me, little to no result.

However, these are the tips and tricks I use every day for good marks and a good night's sleep!

First of all, try to completely understand the assignment; if you are uncertain about how to begin or have burning questions it makes sense to put it off! But reading the instructions, or even just asking someone, can give you the clarity you need to get going!

To make sure you keep focus, set a timer. Tell yourself you’ll be done by a certain time or day; set a goal. Holding yourself to that goal can make you complete more work than you thought was possible!

Next: if you feel yourself slipping, take a break. Not for too long, but try a set amount of time you give yourself to simply relax and rest your mind. 

One of my personal favorite focus techniques is splashing your face with cold water once you feel tired. The energy drains out of you as the temperature and shock help to get back in the working mindset.

This one might only work for some, but finding the right playlist that matches the vibe, subject and assignment can be deeply motivational!

However, once you set the music, distractions (such as your phone or your cat that keeps trying to sit on your keyboard) should probably be put away…

My last tip is where you work; a change in scenery can motivate you to start working, having a place you always work can familiarize you with the setting of where you are most productive, somewhere quiet or peaceful is often useful, but most importantly whatever works best for you is where you should be.

Now, keep in mind that None of these may work for you, but that’s okay! Work is a very personal and ever-changing task. Helped or not, good luck studying!