Layla

How to Overcome Procrastination

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As a college student, procrastination is my worst enemy 😅 especially with virtual classes: procrastination and stress levels have increased tenfold!!

So, I wanted to break down my go-to strategies for beating high-stress levels and procrastination! 🥳

Table of Contents

Don't Catastrophize 😳

A lot of procrastination is triggered by catastrophizing (or making a big deal out of) a certain task or assignment. It might be due to the task being boring, difficult, or unpleasant to complete 😞

But, usually, the underlying feeling is that the task/assignment is just downright unbearable.

Let's not forget that procrastination is linked to stress. So, to deal with that stress, try to keep things in perspective! Yes, this isn't what I want to be doing right now, BUT I know I can get through this and complete this! A positive mindset can do WONDERS -- I promise you!

Remember your 'Why' 🤗

Instead of dreading starting a certain task/assignment, try focusing on the why: why are you having to complete this? Is it for your degree? Or possibly for a certificate? Or a coding course?

Whatever it may be, try to focus on the benefits of completing it!!

Time to get a Planner!! 😆

Projects/tasks that get done "when you have time” (as in “I'll just do it when I have time”) usually don't get done very often, if ever.

Repeat after me: time management is my best friend!

If you don't already have one, it's time to get a planner or a calendar!! It's essential to schedule when you are going to work on a project/assignment and block out that time 😎😎

And when it is time to do your work, put away all distractions (phone, social media, etc.) and set a timer so you can be focused for the entire time you've set aside

Be Honest with yourself 💕

What I mean is, if you're not a morning person, you probably won't be taking an 8 am college class, will you? 😅

Being realistic with yourself sets you up for success. Some projects/assignments can take longer than expected, so maybe factor in some extra time.

And look for ways to make it easier on yourself: like I mentioned above, if you're not a morning person, don’t expect yourself to get up at 5 am to start coding that app you've been designing for weeks... it might be better to schedule that project during lunch or before dinner

Chunks FTW 😎

Procrastination happens often when you have an assignment/project or task that just seems SO overwhelming 😅

So, ask yourself this: "How can I break this project/task into smaller, more manageable chunks?" 🤔

Breaking things into chunks and organizing those chunks in your calendar/planner goes * a very long way!* You'll notice you no longer dread completing that task/project 🥳

An example: you have a ten-page research paper due in a month. But, where do you begin? How do you get started?

  1. Organize your necessary to-dos into chunks! From the example above, a chunk would be 'finding a topic', or 'collecting credible sources'

  2. Then, designate a chunk to complete each day over the next few months/weeks! (In this essay example, you'd plan to 'find a topic' on Monday, and 'find credible resources' on Tuesday, then 'start your rough draft' on Wednesday!)

Separating an overbearing task/project into chunks, and organizing those in your planner will leave you feeling more empowered and less overwhelmed. I promise!! 🥰

Excuses be Gone 🤘🏼

Have you found yourself saying:

  • "I'll get around to it when I have time"

  • "I need X and Y to happen before I can get started", or

  • "I just have to be in the mood to complete this".

Those are EXCUSES! It's time to Be honest with yourself and just START!

Zero Distractions 😡😡

The environment/space you work in can either hinder your productivity OR help it. So, look around the room you're currently working in...what in it can you credit to being a distraction?

Check your computer/laptop...do you have tons of social media tabs open? How about Slack or Discord? 🤨

During this scheduled block of time to work on a task/project, here are a few things you should do:

  • close your email and IM

  • turn off your phone (or at least set it on “Do Not Disturb” and put it out of sight)

  • don’t let yourself get on the internet until you have completed the task/try to hold off any necessary internet searches until the end

Give yourself some Credit!! 👏🏼

Give yourself a reward if—and only if—you complete what you set out to do!! 🥳🥳

Don't let yourself binge-watch that new Netflix show, check Twitter, or go out for a lunch date until you complete the task you have planned!

Instead of using those activities to procrastinate, make them contingent upon you actually finishing what you schedule yourself to do 😎😎

And... that's all I got! 😆😆

I hope some of these tips can help you in whatever level of procrastination you're feeling!! 💕 give me a thumbs up on this post, if it helped you! 🥰🥰

Give me a follow on Twitter if you'd like, as well!

Catch you guys later!! 😎 also, drop a comment below if any of these strategies helped you!! I'd love to know 😍😍