how to stop procrastinating
set up a productive work environment. if you canât seem to work in your bedroom, go out and study in a local library or a cute cafe! also, get out some water and put away distractions!
use the pomodoro method. work in 20-40 minute intervals and take breaks in between. you can use apps like forest to set a timer and also keep you off your phone. this method is helpful because your brain canât focus and take in information for too long, so taking breaks can allow it to restďżź.
although i said to take breaks, donât take breaks if you donât need them. if youâre feeling super productive and feel that you can go on, donât stop and break your focus. in other words, donât use breaks as an excuse to stop working if you donât actually need them.
use a planner if you donât have one already. or some kind of planning system, like an app on your phone or a bullet journal. use it to jot down everything you need to do, so you never forget a deadline!
schedule out your week. note down when youâre at school/working or when you have extracurriculars to go to. this way, youâll know when you have free time to work. i know that not everyone can follow schedules, but if you think you can, try this! however, itâs imortant not to over schedule, as you need time to rest to avoid burnout. donât always take away personal time for work time!
just take the first step. focus on getting started instead of finishing. if youâre feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself that all you need to do is start. you can tell yourself that youâll work for only 5 minutes, and by the end, you will probably end up feeling that you can continue.
use the two minute rule. if it can be done in two minutes or less, just do it now.
break tasks down into little manageable steps. letâs say you have an essay to write. donât just write down in your todo list to write the essay. write down smaller steps, such as coming up with your thesis, finding evidence, outlining, etc.
stop multitasking. while it may seem that youâll get more donât this way, you wonât. focus your attention on one thing and complete it. also, if you find yourself wanting to do something else, just write it down in your planner and do it when youâre done with this current task.
do a little bit everyday. chip away at a task everyday for a week instead of stressfully cramming it on the last day before the deadline. for example, if you review your notes everyday for a couple of minutes, these minutes will add up and youâll thank yourself for when you actually have a test.
get ahead!! this kind of ties in to the previous step, but the most productive people always start working even if the deadline seems far away. please save yourself the stress later! it also might be helpful to set yourself a fake deadline to finish an assignment early.
if you find yourself not wanting to do work because youâre struggling to do so, ask for help. write down some questions to ask your teacher the next day or call a friend or go to office hours. if youâre completely stuck, set the task aside and do something else.
give yourself rewards. this can be anything from hanging out with friends, watching an episode of a tv show, reading a book, eating some chocolate, or buying that thing youâve been wanting for a while.
stay positive. itâs impossible to battle procrastination completely, so forgive yourself for not being productive all the time. donât be tough on yourself, and instead focus on getting back on track now. some days, you just need to rest and take care of yourself.
