As the final
exam season starts to kick in, there is a lot of pressure in terms of deadlines
that make students overwhelmed. In this process, it is very easy to be
demotivated and discouraged to spend time to study which ultimately leads to
procrastinating. Before I start talking about the ways in which you can avoid
being a victim at the hands of procrastination, it is highly important that you
understand why you are procrastinating in the first place. The AA&CC’s
website has a tip sheet dedicated to procrastination which lists the important
reasons that lead to it.
Creating a Routine
In order to
keep yourself disciplined academically, it is important that you have a routine
that is both productive and realistic. If you were to expect yourself to study
12 hours a day then the likelihood of that happening would be very slim.
Balance is key in productivity. You need to have a set number of hours while
also giving yourself some free time as a reward. That way you will be motivated
to accomplish a goal in anticipation of the reward you will be giving yourself
later on. However, beware of stretching your reward time where it becomes
procrastination in disguise. There is a very fine line between a break from
studying and not studying at all. Use your time wisely because once it’s gone
it will not come back.
Develop an Interest
I am a huge
advocate of studying what you love and are truly passionate about. For example,
my love for books and films led me to study English Literature which attracts
me to study the course material. The undergraduate degree must be a learning
experience that is both enlightening and enjoyable for students. However, at
times you may find yourself struggling with course work that does not interest
you. In that circumstance, try to find ways to interact with the coursework.
Drop by your Professor’s office hours and discuss topics that you’re having
difficulty with. The more understanding you have of the material, the easier it
will be to develop an interest. You may even find that going the extra mile
might reveal some hidden interests that you weren’t aware you had to begin
with. Once you are accustomed with the material, you will find that you won’t
have the urge to procrastinate any further.
Taking Initiative
Most of the
time, you might find that it is very hard for you to go into the study mode you
were hoping for. In that case, it is highly important that you start somewhere.
My advice would be to begin with a course that you enjoy the most. Starting with
the easiest will give you the time you need to put yourself in the right frame
of mind to study.
Try to
figure out what makes you procrastinate. Every student has a different mind-set
and pattern that drives them to get things done. Ask yourself questions that
might help you understand yourself better. Are you too stressed to think about
work? Why are you demotivated? How can you motivate yourself to accomplish
certain goals throughout the day? What is the best time for you to study? With
all the amount of work we are swamped with, it gets really difficult to listen
to ourselves and understand our choices. Answering questions like these will
definitely help solve the problem of procrastination.
Avoid Distractions
While Social
media is a great tool to connect with people, it is very easy to get lost in
time and can become one of the factors that result in procrastination. I
understand that it can be really hard to disconnect from Social media but try
to utilize it towards your academic commitments. For example, create a study
group and exchange notes with your fellow peers. This is a great way to
interact with new people and engage with the material in a creative way. Also
try to create a study environment with minimal distractions. It is always good
to disconnect from things that prevent you from completing academic commitments
on time.
Goodbye for now,
-Ayesha Haq
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