How To Stop Procrastinating as a Student

 

Procrastination is a common challenge that university students face. Balancing lectures, assignments and a social life can be overwhelming, leading to a cycle of putting off important tasks until the last minute. This can cause stress and negatively impact your academic performance and, more importantly, your personal well-being.

 

If you’ve found yourself struggling with procrastination, we’re here to help! We’ll help you discover some of the best strategies to stop procrastination in its tracks. Whether you’re struggling to avoid procrastination or looking to improve your productivity, these tips are designed to help you overcome procrastination habits and achieve your long-term goals.
 

 

Before we dive in, you’ve got to understand why avoiding procrastination is important. For starters, putting off tasks may hinder your academic performance. When you leave your assignments and revision until the last minute, it will likely lead to rushed, lower-quality work – negatively impacting grades on both your exams and assignments.

 

 

Aside from that, procrastination can be harmful to your mental health, Neuroscience News reports. Although you’re putting something off, your brain still knows that you’ve got to do it. This can lead to an increase in stress, anxiety and depression. By completing these tasks on time, you can boost your personal satisfaction by fostering a sense of accomplishment.
 

Now, let’s take a look at how to stop procrastinating.

 

 

 

According to Solving Procrastination, a lack of clear goals is a common reason why students are prone to procrastination. Without a clear direction and motivation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and avoid important tasks as they seem pointless. 

 

 

Start off by looking at the bigger picture. Where do you want to be in one, five, or even ten years' time? Then break down the steps of what you need to do to accomplish this. By specifying why you need to study or complete your assignments to a high standard, you’ll be more motivated to do so!
 

 

Having a structured plan can significantly reduce procrastination. When you allocate specific times for studying, assignments and breaks, you create a routine that fosters productivity. To make this possible, you could create a planner or digital calendar to map out your week. For a better overview of your week, try colour-coding your schedule according to classes, study sessions and social activities. It’s important to build consistency, so aim to stick to this as closely as possible. But there’s no harm in being flexible! 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s easy to spend time on less important activities while avoiding the large tasks that matter – it makes us feel better about doing something. Prioritising helps you focus on what’s most critical. One of the ways you can do this is by using the Eisenhower Matrix to categorise your tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. Start by focussing on the tasks that are both urgent and important and take it from there.
 

 

A major source of your procrastination comes from distractions. Whether it’s social media, noise, chatting with your friends or even a cluttered workspace, it’s important to block these distractions when you’re in study mode. To create a distraction-free environment, turn off your notifications and set the stage for better concentration and productivity.
 

 

Facing a large task can be intimidating, leading to procrastination. Breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces can make it seem less overwhelming. If you have a big project or assignment due, such as your dissertation, divide and conquer is the way forward. You could break this down into researching, outlining, writing and sense-checking. For each smaller task, set yourself a mini deadline to keep yourself on track and watch yourself shine. 
 

 

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that can help you stay focused and productive. It involves working for a set period, usually 25 minutes, followed by a short break. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on a task without interruptions. After the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break and repeat, taking a longer break after every four “Pomodoros”. This technique can help you maintain a high level of focus while preventing burnout. 
 

 

Incentives can be a powerful motivator to overcome procrastination. A bit like training a dog, rewarding yourself after completing a task is a type of conditioning that reinforces positive behaviour, making you more likely to want to complete these tasks. Your reward can be anything you enjoy – whether it’s watching an episode of your favourite series, indulging in your favourite snack or even going for a walk.
 

 

Having someone to hold you accountable can significantly reduce procrastination. Sharing your goals with a friend can provide the extra push you need. Partner with a classmate or friend and set up regular check-ins to discuss your progress. This accountability can help you stay committed to your tasks and deadlines. Unless you’re prone to chatting, you could even use each other as a study buddy to help each other revise.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s important to be kind to yourself, especially when you slip up. Beating yourself up over it can lead to more negative emotions and even more procrastination. Everyone struggles with it at times, so when you do, reflect on what triggered it and how you can address it in the future. This way you can improve how you handle it the next time you have a handful of stressful tasks to juggle.
 

 

Procrastination can be challenging, but you will be able to overcome it with the right time management strategies. By setting clear goals, creating a schedule, prioritising tasks and eliminating distractions, you can build habits that promote productivity and reduce stress. Remember, overcoming procrastination takes time and effort, but the rewards both personally and academically will be worthwhile. Now you know how to stop procrastinating, put these tips into action and watch as you grow.

 

 

Ready to study but still searching for a place to live? Our student accommodation in Birmingham offers both study and social spaces for you to utilise.