Procrastination is normal because finding time to juggle priorities can be quite hard for students, even at the best of their times. By the end of each semester, you will find your schedule fully packed, thanks to presentations, projects, and additional curriculum requirements to meet to get grades to pass exams. Psychologists have revealed that procrastination has a bad impact on our well-being. According to studies, students who tend to keep putting off are more prone to score lower grades in examinations.
If you want to get focused on your studies, you will have to stop playing for time. There will never be the right time for your studies. It is now when you should start taking the bull by the horns. Here are some of the techniques to stop putting off studies:
- Eliminate distractions
It is possible that you are putting off your studies because you have a lot on your plate, but sometimes you are struggling to juggle with your priorities because you are not organized. How you plan your day plays a crucial role in helping you have enough time for your studies. It is no wonder that you keep checking your text messages, emails and other notifications. Sometimes, you get bailed up in long conversations with your friends on the phone. Social media is the biggest factor that is responsible for distraction. You keep scrolling to check the latest updates.
Ban access to social media sites until your exams are over. Just log out and uninstall the app. No information in your account will be lost unless you permanently delete it. You can access your account once again after downloading networking sites. Avoid hanging out with friends.
Some people prefer group studies. Inviting your friend to study with you will hardly take you anywhere. No matter how serious you are, you will end up wasting your time in chit-chat. When you are studying, make sure that your phone is in airplane mode. Close social media apps. Put them to deep sleep unless your exams are over.
- Pick a good location for your studies
The location matters to help you keep studying. The bed is not the best place even in the harshest winters because you may slip into a doze. You should have dedicated space for your studies. Make sure you have a table, an ergonomic chair, and a table lamp. Make sure the table has a file cabinet. It should be spacious enough to keep your desktop or laptop, pen case, highlighters, calendar, printer, and other related items. Despite all of these items, there must be enough space to keep books and notebooks to study.
Be smart while choosing the location for your table. Choose the location where you think you can study comfortably. If possible, set up your table against the window wall. You will feel energetic when you can take an outside view. Make sure the place you pick is dedicated to studies only. Do not do any other activities like watching TV and napping. You will be able to focus more on your studies if your brain knows you are in a study environment.
You may need to improve your house to dedicate a room to your studies only. Home improvement can be slightly expensive. If you do not have enough money, you should take out a £5,000 bad credit loan.
- Set a deadline
You need a deadline to ensure that you will complete your tasks on time. Writing a research paper or thesis takes too much time, and most students find it extremely hard to complete them. Writing these sounds boring and is time-consuming, too. You cannot afford to be unproductive if you have to write tens of thousands of words. You should divide this task into little chunks. Make sure you write 1,000 words every day within a set hour. Make sure that you manage to complete this task within the given deadline so you will have time for learning as well.
It is likely that you fail to meet the deadline. Do not beat yourself up and panic. Instead, figure out a way to get things done on time. You will have to fine-tune your schedule so you do not fall behind. The deadline you set must be realistic. Some students try to bite more than they can chew to finish their job sooner, but it will burn them out, and then they will find themselves far behind in their goals.
- Eat healthy and exercise
A nutritious diet and exercise play a crucial role in keeping you productive. Many students underestimate the importance of nutrient-rich food. They do not even bother to skip meals to finish their project, but you face this day because procrastination goes down to the wire. Skipping meals will make you sluggish and fatigued, which prompts you to put off your work. Stop relying on sugary foods filled with empty calories. You should rather prefer nutrient-dense food like nuts, fish, eggs and green vegetables.
Exercise is also a must to improve your productivity. It does not mean that you need to go to the gym, run on a treadmill for hours, or lift weights. A study suggests that walking or climbing stairs in the morning rather than using a lift will boost your dopamine level. Exercises release endorphins in your brain that keep you calm and focused. You will find yourself more energetic and motivated when you exercise and eat healthy.
- Take a break
Constant studying can make you exhausted and deplete your productivity. You might assume that taking breaks means putting off, but that is not so. You are supposed to take a break when you need it. As you start getting tired, a 10-minute break can revive your energy. However, if you are taking breaks only because you want to avoid doing something, you are simply procrastinating.
- Take responsibility
Never forget that you are responsible for your exam grades, projects and assignments. Admit the fact that you are doing your own bad by delaying doing what you should do now. It is easy to get trapped in procrastination, but you should look out for your actions. Stop putting yourself off before it is too late.
Do not forget that completing your studies will help you obtain a degree. With a higher degree, you will be able to get a job with higher pay. Your financial life will become better. It will be easier for you to qualify for larger loans such as a £10,000 loan with bad credit.
The bottom line
To overcome procrastination, you should set a schedule and divide your tasks into smaller chunks. Set a realistic deadline and make sure you complete your tasks within those deadlines. Take time-to-time breaks to boost your productivity.
Make sure that you do not compromise with your eating habits. Choose nutrient-dense food over processed food. Do a bit of exercise because it releases endorphins and dopamine in your brain and helps it process information quickly. You will learn quickly.
