pro·cras·ti·na·tion: We love you, we hate you, how do we get away from you?!
No, not just yet! Since there are still a few more weeks before we can throw our caps in the air (or pack up our dorm and head on back home for summer break) there are ways to combat this procrastination fever. Here are four tips and some additional suggestions from collegiettes™ for overcoming procrastination. So now we can all relax a bit when we hear the dreaded phrase "finals week."
1. Make Lists and Prioritize
Carol Spector, Director of Career Services at Emerson College, says, "It seems procrastination always happen this time of year because we get ourselves so overwhelmed with our tasks. That's why it is very important to break things down into smaller tasks. When studying for finals, it is best to start with a list of all that you need to do. You might even divide that [list] into segments of reviewing notes to researching information."
Taylor, a student at the University of Connecticut, says, "I write down everything [I] need to do on a Post-It note. Realistically, you're not going to accomplish anything more than what you can fit on a Post-It note in a day, so it's another simple way to make a list with specific tasks and stick with it."
If you tell yourself you're going to finish writing 20 pages in one afternoon, you'll probably be unpleasantly surprised when you realize this is actually an unrealistic goal. Tell yourself that you're going to focus on writing five pages at a time, for example. This way, if it takes you two hours to write five pages (without any distractions), then you can take a half hour break, and then move onto another assignment or the next five pages of the paper. Theoretically, you could get ten pages done in one day, and 20 pages done in a whole weekend. But that's if you really focus. (And then you could spend the next three days editing your paper to perfection!)
2. Disconnect from Social Networking
Facebook can be our best friend when it wants to be. And at other times, it can actually be our worst enemy. Simply deactivating the Facebook doesn't work because you can literally log back in and voila you're now back into your usual stalking routine. Laura, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, says, "For anyone with a Mac, I highly recommend the free program called SelfControl—you can block any sites you tend to procrastinate with for however long you need, and once you block them, there's NOTHING you can do to un-block them until the time runs out. I'm not sure how I ever got things done without it."
3. Pick Your Location
Since I live off campus I usually do my work in my apartment. After countless nights falling asleep on my laptop or on a stack of textbooks, I realized that it is impossible for me to do any work when I'm laying on my stomach on my bed. In order to get work done more efficiently, I move to a different location in my apartment and bring my computer and anything else I need to complete my assignment(s). It's important to pick a location that works best for you and your needs and that will allow you to get the most work done possible.
Meagan, Colorado State University, says, "Go somewhere other than your normal place of study—if you usually study at home, hit the library. If you study at the library, take your computer to a coffee shop. I find being in an unfamiliar environment helps me focus when I really need to and I don't fall back on my usual procrastination habits."
4. Take Breaks
Being overwhelmed isn't fun and taking a break from writing that 25-page paper or studying for that pathobiology exam can be a good thing! Sometimes you just need time to allow your brain to breathe. Give yourself a certain amount of time off—whether it's a five-minute bathroom break or a 30-minute snack and Gossip Girl rerun—a break is a necessity. Go for a run if it's nice outside and you'll feel more awake and ready to combat any final—no matter the size, shape, or deadline. Kimya, a student at Emerson College, says, "Allow yourself a certain amount of time for procrastination. Say to yourself 'OK, after I've written two pages, I'll take a Tumblr break.'"
Here are even more finals week tips from collegiettes™!
- Lauren, Emerson College, says, "Allot certain blocks of procrastination time. Whenever I need to study or buckle down and write a paper, I set a timer. For every twenty minutes I do nothing but work, I get five minutes of 'me' time. That's the time you can dance around your room wildly to 'Walking on Sunshine' or tag photos on Facebook. Just make sure you set a timer for those five minutes, as well, and adhere to them."
- Kaitlyn, UW-Madison, says, "I do all that I have to do on computer first, then go to the library without it. And having a friend change your Facebook password until finals are over isn't a bad idea!"
- Rachel, Northeastern University, says, "I wake up that day with the mentality of 'okay, I need to absolutely get this done today' even if it is just one thing. If you tell yourself all day you're going to do something, your brain adjusts to the idea of it."
- Audrey, University of Iowa, says, "Get everything done the week BEFORE finals week—that means catch up on e-mail and Facebook, but also paint your nails, clean your room and read all of your favorite magazines so you have nothing else to do but study!"
- Audrey, Skidmore College, says, "The best tip for procrastinators is to start on the biggest project first, even if it means just making a little headway. Starting is the most daunting part, and often, especially during finals, we tend to work on smaller projects, leaving the most strenuous for last. Just work for 15 minutes on that project and you'll feel more relieved for the entire week."
Remember, as much as you need to get a lot of work done before the semester is over, you should relax, pace yourself, and take small breaks in between. Pick out a location that will work best for you so you can steer clear from distractions and be sure to give yourself rewards for completing a certain amount of work. Do some yoga, go for a run, stretch, refuel, and give your brain some time to breathe before you put your nose back into the books!
Now get to work collegiettes™! And once you're done with that thesis, tell us what study tips work best for you. Happy finals!
