How to stop procrastinating: whilst it helps us take the load off momentarily, and can provide a few minutes (or days) worth of entertainment, procrastination ultimately leaves us more stressed and further behind. Yet, most of us still struggle to kick the habit. So here are 5 tips to stop procrastinating…<\/p>\n
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Personally, I prefer to work on my own at a clean desk in my room, or in a study space. Some people find silence overwhelming and need to be with others in a busy library or cafe, and that\u2019s fine too.\u00a0If you don\u2019t yet know where you work best, try out a few options and see which you prefer.<\/p>\n
Beware: the environment you find most fun isn’t necessarily the one in which you’ll\u00a0produce the best work, so be honest with yourself. Then, once you\u2019ve found the best atmosphere, stick with it! The environment you work in affects you more than you probably realise.<\/p>\n
That means\u00a0switching off your phone! You don\u2019t need to keep your phone on or tabs open on the computer, doing so will only lead you into temptation. If you simply can\u2019t resist, switch off your laptop, pop your phone under your pillow and work on paper. It\u2019s far too easy to tell yourself that you\u2019ll only check your feed quickly, then spend the next two hours scrolling mindlessly.<\/p>\n
In order to keep your energy levels up, you\u2019re going to need supplies. Whilst coffee might give you an instant boost, too much will\u00a0keep you running to the\u00a0loo \u2013 not the most productive way to spend your study time!<\/p>\n
So, swap the Costa for a bottle of nature\u2019s finest: a lovely bottle of water. It\u2019s cheaper, so your bank balance will thank you; it helps you think clearer, so your brain will thank you; and it\u2019s much better for your skin, so your body will\u00a0thank you too.<\/p>\n
The stress of studying often leads us to neglect our bodies, making us ill, so doing your best to avoid snacking on sugary foods is important too. Sadly, when it comes to snacks, healthy ones aren\u2019t always the most appealing. So strike a deal with yourself: for every piece of important work, or chapter of a book you\u2019ve completed, you can have a small snack. Alternate between healthy\u00a0and unhealthy, and you\u2019ll be much more motivated knowing that you\u2019re never more than two pieces of work away from a few chunks of chocolate.<\/p>\n
Posters are great, and visual representation of ideas can be a fantastic way to make connections. But, if you\u2019re spending more time picking which felt tip pens would best represent each theory than actually learning the theories, you\u2019re not going to get anywhere. So, when you\u2019re setting yourself revision tasks, don\u2019t opt for the most fun task, set yourself a problem which really makes you think. Write your own questions and try to think how you\u2019d grade the answers if you were an examiner.<\/p>\n
We procrastinate because we are driven towards immediate gratification. The psychology of it is that whilst your pre-frontal cortex knows you\u2019ve got to do some work, when you get bored your limbic system tells\u00a0you to go after whatever feels good right now.<\/p>\n
The best way you can beat your limbic system is to sit down and make yourself work for short periods of time (about 30-50 minutes is optimum) and within this time, set yourself specific tasks to complete, rather than just \u201crevise X\u201d.<\/p>\n
Remind yourself why you need to study: pop sticky notes up reminding you that you want to succeed, and why it\u2019s important that you work hard. You\u2019ll feel great when you\u2019ve got a long crossed-out list of completed tasks, and it\u2019ll help you stay organised.<\/p>\n
Then, when you do take a break, step away from your workspace. If you\u2019ve been using your laptop and want to surf the web, do it on your phone, or at least in another room. Ideally though, get\u00a0moving\u00a0and chat to someone for\u00a015 minutes! Dancing around the room singing at the top of your voice, playing with a younger sibling, or\u00a0taking the dog for a walk will ensure you feel far more refreshed than you would sitting hunched over a computer screen for that time. Then, when you return to your desk, you’ll\u00a0feel ready to get on with what you need to do.<\/p>\n