OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

Picture this: it’s Sunday night and a student is working furiously to complete his assignments that were given 4 days ago. On top of that, he has an upcoming test on Tuesday for which he has not started revising. He panics and wishes he had started on his tasks earlier. If this scene is familiar, it is likely that you, like him, have succumbed to procrastination before.
It is a common misconception that procrastination equates to laziness. Laziness is the lack of motivation to complete a task whereas procrastination is acknowledging that a task requires attention but instead choosing to do a myriad of other activities rather than the task at hand.
When we ponder on the cause of procrastination, the first thought would be the fear of failure or the lack of understanding about the task at hand. While there are other contributing factors, the main culprits are often distraction, exhaustion, and poor time management. Delaying the completion of homework invariably translates to rushed work, which will manifest in less-than-ideal grades. Low grades may, in turn, impact a student emotionally, resulting in a vicious spiral of regression and deterioration.
How can students overcome the tendency to procrastinate? Firstly, you have to understand why you procrastinate. Awareness and getting to the root of the problem make it easier to come up with an effective solution.
Secondly, break large tasks into smaller ones and prioritise them. This will make the tasks feel less
overwhelming and prioritising will ensure you do not end up wasting time on trivial matters and neglecting important ones.
Thirdly, identify your peak times, i.e. which part of the day are you most productive? Different people are productive during different times of the day. Some function better in the morning while others are more productive at night. Plan your schedule so that most of your work is scheduled to be completed during those time periods.
Lastly, choose the right environment and get rid of distractions. When studying for exams or doing schoolwork, choose where and whom you are working with wisely. Repeatedly placing yourself in an environment where you don’t get much done or are constantly scrolling on your phone causes more harm than good.
Like Mark Twain once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” Tackle the task the moment it arises and avoid pushing it back till “tomorrow”. With self-discipline and determination, procrastination can be kept at bay.