How to Stop Procrastinating

Online education teaches you a lot of things, not just about the world we live in, but also about ourselves. For instance, I’ve learned that I can be a huge procrastinator! It’s easy to perpetually put things off, especially when things are overwhelming. But there are tips and tricks that can help us learn how to stop procrastinating.

Do you ever talk your way out of what you should be doing by convincing yourself that the task is still important? Likely. But how do you feel afterward? Do you feel a sense of accomplishment? Or do you feel even more discouraged? Deep down we know that paper or project is due soon, yet we’ll choose avoidance until we can’t anymore.  

Balancing Responsibilities

Admittedly, most of us are trying to reach our educational goals while also maintaining some semblance of a work/life balance. I’ve never heard a college graduate tell me it wasn’t worth the effort, but it can certainly test the limits of your commitment. There are certain organizational methods and skills that you will need to be comfortable with in order to stay focused and on track. You may need to experiment, and not every technique works for everyone. The good news? These are great life skills that will benefit you for the rest of your life.  

Using a Time Blocking Strategy

The hardest part of beating procrastination is getting started. Willpower is important, but if you are like me, it’s not enough – especially if I am hungry, tired, or generally unmotivated. During these moments I can easily negotiate myself out of doing something important.  

One of the most effective strategies I have used for beating procrastination is time blocking. Time blocking is flexible, scalable, and helps you mentally prepare to get things done. With this technique, you schedule a specific time period that is reserved for a specific purpose. From a one-time task on your “someday” list, or a daily routine such as logging into your course, scheduling a 1-3 hour block of time to work on a particular task will increase your chances of successfully completing it. Break up those larger efforts into smaller chunks, and before you know it, that final portfolio project starts to feel more like a carefully curated piece of art than an amateur T.V. bake-off competition.

Bottom line, we all have the same 24 hours in a day, so decide how you will spend it. Without a plan, you might be wondering where all that time went.

Creating Accountability

Being “too busy” is, unfortunately, an excuse I use far too often. Sure, many of us are juggling school, work, and family time among other things. But how long can I put off exercise or focusing on my health?  Being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. 

In these moments it helps to have a good support network. For me, that is my family and friends who are willing to share advice, offer encouragement, and hold me accountable to my own commitments.  Share your goals and aspirations with them, and ask for their support. This is not a time for judgment! But you might be surprised at how motivating it can be to be asked about what projects or deadlines are on the horizon.  

Reward Yourself  

You’ve finally done it! You worked hard, stuck to your schedule and, with a little help from your support team, finished that paper you’ve been needing to write. That sense of accomplishment is liberating. Not only that, but you finished it on a Friday so you’ve just rewarded yourself with a stress-free weekend.  

All that momentum might tempt you to time-block your weekend and get even more done. But don’t make the mistake of over doing it. Enjoy the gift of time to relax and unwind. You’ve earned it.  

Now, I started writing this article two years ago, so I think I’ll do the same.