E-Magazine: Avoiding Procrastination
Avoiding Procrastination
Procrastinating is a concept most people have experienced with around 95% of the population practicing it to some extent. It constitutes putting off work to do other things, leaving you to do what you want to do instead. Especially in the current virtual world many students find themselves in, finishing tasks on time seems almost impossible. Students find themselves struggling to turn things in on time, always faced with the 11:59 due time. There must be a way to stop this endless cycle of worrying, postponing, and stressing at the last minute. The most obvious solution: stop procrastinating.
Everyone has heard their teachers, parents, and friends tell them to just get the work done; just finish it, so you don’t have to worry about it later. But it’s easier said than done, right? There are constant distractions at home from your phone to the snacks in your pantry downstairs; it’s difficult to keep your focus on schoolwork. However, as Georgia HOSA members, it is our duty to be examples for our fellow peers and create our paths to the healthcare industry. With a few tips and tricks, avoiding procrastination can be made easier, but it is up to you to use them. You can learn and take the initiative to finish your work and achieve your goals.
The first step is to forget your past experiences with procrastinating. Constantly criticizing yourself over past failures isn’t going to change your outcomes in the present or future. Clean your slate and start fresh. This forgiveness of yourself actually boosts your mood which leads to increased work ethic and reduces rates of procrastination. If you have trouble moving on from your past poor time management, try considering the reason behind your procrastination. Maybe the task isn’t interesting enough for you, or you’re worried about messing up the assignment, so you push it off for later; whatever the reason behind your deferral, make sure you understand your feelings and thoughts behind it. Once you are able to understand why you are pushing off your work, you can begin to take specific effective steps toward punctually finishing your tasks.
Now, you can begin to pick and employ certain anti-procrastination measures that allow you to complete your best work in a timely manner. Keeping up with these strategies may be difficult at first, but it takes time to unlearn bad habits so don’t get discouraged. Remember it takes 21 days to create new habits!
The most obvious solution is to commit to the task. Just push yourself to begin your task and make sure you complete it. Beginning something is always the hardest part, so try to persevere through this stage.
Write down your tasks on a to-do list. It helps to visually see all the work you must accomplish along with the times they are due which allows you to organize your priorities. Moreover, checking off the items on a list is satisfying and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Give yourself a small reward after finishing a task. It can be difficult to complete all your work at first, so try to give yourself something to look forward to once you finish something.
Make sure you are in a place that has minimal distractions. Working at home is difficult since there are countless things that can distract you, so try to alleviate some distractions by moving to a quiet place that allows you to focus.
Stop overthinking your work and tasks. You should avoid waiting for the perfect time or perfect way to accomplish something. It is better to start something as soon as possible since you can’t know what the best time to complete something is. Plus, when you’re just given a task, the qualities and requirements of it are still fresh in your mind, allowing you to complete it at a higher level.
Try working with a friend, peer, or anyone who can hold you accountable and make sure you stay focused. If you don’t trust yourself to get the work done, then you can surround yourself with people who will make sure you finish your work. Moreover, this strategy is more fun, since you are able to work with someone you enjoy being around, which can lead to increased productivity when compared to sitting by yourself.
After learning these anti-procrastination strategies, try utilizing some of them in your day-to-day lives and see if they allow you to complete your work in an efficient manner. Remember, it takes time to turn these tips into habits so don’t give up!
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- Bavishya Yeturi