Are you someone who is overly organized? Maybe you have a schedule for every day, a list for every need, a sticky for every thought and a place for every object in your life. Or are you someone who tends to really live in the moment rather than plan for another one? You may toss your clothes around, think about something and hope you remember it later, decide to do the dishes another day because they don’t exactly need to be done during that exact moment you see them.
Well either way, there is nothing wrong with the person you are and how you go about your daily business. However, have you ever approached study methods in a different way because maybe the same thing isn’t working for you?
With the school year in full effect, it’s a great time to start thinking about planning and organization hacks now. No matter the type A or B personality you have, too much procrastination in your life can leave you feeling like you’re drowning in a vessel of water you have subconsciously filled up. Here are some tips to keep your head above water.
What is procrastination exactly?
It is when you make the choice to unnecessarily delay something, even realizing there will be negative consequences. According to soulsalt.com, some common traits of people who are associated with procrastination can range from perfectionism, depression and ADHD to low self esteem and a general lack of energy.
I know a lot of kids in school, especially college kids, experience feelings of procrastination. But did you know that procrastination can cause negative effects on your physical and mental health? The effects of procrastination are associated with worse academic performance, worse financial status, increased interpersonal relationship issues, self depreciation and heightened stress levels, according to Solvingprocrastination.com.
One way to avoid procrastination is to get organized. Now, this can vary. Maybe for you it’s simply picking clothes off the floor, writing a list of tasks, clearing off space in your work desk, even getting yourself ready for the day to begin working on something can become beneficial.
A second path is to eliminate distractions. This could be done by putting your phone on do not disturb, or maybe change your location and head to a library or a Panera to work.
Prioritize what is most important to get done. Maybe starting off with easier tasks will get you more fueled for more difficult ones. Another way to prioritize would be to assign yourself parts of a major task throughout the week, so instead of facing it head on you’re scattering it out to create a more moderate workload each day.
I think the most crucial way to avoid procrastination is to reward yourself for finishing a task.
It’s important to know what works for you and planning things out at the beginning of the school year will give you plenty of room to fail, grow and succeed!
