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Procrastinating? Read This.

Student Life

October 07, 2022

When you concentrate on impulsive desires, your time management and efficiency will become relatively unstable. The dopamine your brain releases when it engages with distractions (such as video games and social media apps), reduces your likelihood of committing to high academic performance. As a result, many students struggle with lengthy assignments and difficult exams the night before the due date.

Contrary to many teenagers’ opinions, studying and managing schoolwork can be a very enjoyable experience. Learn how to switch your appeals from disturbances to meaningful outcomes of your future.

1. Break Your Tasks Into Smaller Parts

The same headline in your planner that reads “Finish the English Essay” can be revised to “English Class: Complete Draft Two, Give Peer Feedback, and Revise.” A frequent mistake when using planners is only writing a brief description of a task. Instead, you should list the steps that are necessary to cross entries off your list. This habit will also reward you with a greater sense of completion and self-fulfillment.

If you do not carry a planner or record your duties, it is highly recommended that you do so. Follow a routine of frequently updating your personal calendar to improve your scores.

2. Speak Aloud While Working

Guide yourself along your tasks by using vocal input. Talking in an optimistic tone while switching from task to task will encourage you to work effectively. Your vocal range can vary from a low murmur to a normal self-conversation.

The choice typically depends on the environment around the speaker. For instance, a peer is less likely to converse loudly if their classroom is void of chatter. This practice sharpens critical thinking and heightens focus. However, if speaking feels unnatural, charting thinking maps are a great alternative.

3. Utilize Excitement

Energize yourself while working by cherishing a small delight before each study session. Whether your source of bliss is listening to your favorite song or simply tasting chocolate, lightly indulging in them will freshen your attitude towards your workload.

It is recommended to refrain from texting or calling as your “treat.” Phone calls and digital conversations can last longer than intended. Do not save your excitement for after a study session, since it becomes a temptation and rushes your thinking processes.

4. Avoid Strict Self-Schedules

Keep an open-minded perspective on the schedules you commit to. Permanent routines can be linked to burnout and faltering willpower. Note the timestamps or conditions under which you thrive.

If plausible, arrange to finish difficult obligations during this period. Your mornings or evenings will be free of worry!

Unfortunately, daily schedules are already busy without self-adjustments. Take advantage of the opportunities that are proposed to you! Push yourself to overcome limits. Remember, asking for help is never a weakness!

5. Cut Your Deadlines Shorter

As a rule of thumb, cutting your deadline by a third (or half) of its real due date can push you to be acquainted with rigorous norms. You can initially inspire other students and increase your amount of free time. If your deadlines are already too short, requesting extensions can ease stress.

Deadlines are closer than a student may suspect, as they are infamous for “sneaking up” at the last minute. However, this is preventable. Remembering significant dates and staying informed can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

6. Leave Areas for Improvement

Task errors (grammatical mistakes, misspellings, etc.) are opportunities to stimulate your brain into action. Leaving flaws to fix may help you work faster and can serve as a “warm-up” for later. Highlight your areas for revision as an easy start to a tedious assignment. Make parts of passages stand out to spark your memory of previous ruminations.

It is crucial to reflect on any mistakes and improvisations. Look for areas to improve your areas for improvement. Read this wordy sentence again. How would you revise it?

7. End Halfway Through Easy Parts

If you are working on a multi-step project, finish the difficult sections while chipping away at tinier ones. Channeling your focus into one challenging process can lead to despondency or procrastination. Instead of taking personal “breaks” (which often last much longer than arranged), complete your short, painless obligations. Finish half of these responsibilities and then divert your attention back to the primary challenge.

Redefine your views of the word “break." They can be categorized as periods of debriefing stress. Rather than viewing them as chances to rest, utilize daily breaks to finish undemanding tasks. Do not overwork yourself!

If they become overly stressful, it is acceptable to differentiate your free time from the academic world. The ideal purpose of all resting periods is to refresh and prepare our minds.

8. Discuss Your Ideas and Thoughts

Begin sharing your passions, interests, and goals with other classmates. You will eventually develop a positive mindset and a fondness for your work. Family members and friends can also offer constructive feedback or advice that can guide you in the revision process.

Fellow students may also give constructive feedback or propose ideas you may have never considered. Every person has distinctive thoughts, observations, and views on the world. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, “listening can be a greater service than speaking.” Both are influential!

Fathoming why you are delaying assignments and tests is essential to self-growth. Fixing and reflecting on poor studying habits and techniques is always possible. There is no better time to start improving than now.

Afterall, success can reach its highest potential when one begins to reconstruct their habits and interests. Procrastination, while often discouraging, is likely to be temporary and curable. All hard work takes is practice, and from there, it’s a smooth ride.

Kelly Halliburton
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Kelly Halliburton is a member of the Creative Writing Conservatory at Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, California. She enjoys writing poetry and volunteering. Through exploring themes of student life and personal growth, she aspires to project meaningful ideas in the community.

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