What are your proven tips to avoid procrastination?

Question

I'm fed up with stressing on term papers and other school projects, even when I have outlines ready, done at the last minute. So please give me PROVEN techniques on how to organize and manage time better; I don't mind if they work in the short term or long term as long as they really help. I'll be gladly appreciated to hear from people who used to be procrastinators =). Thank you!

Answer 1

Have an organizer or calendar and write ' to do list' for yourself before you go to bed, try and do them when you wake up. Whatever you did not finish comes first in your next list. I hope this can help.

Answer 2

I'll tell you later. Seriously though, it all has to do with time management. Setting the time aside to work on projects is easy; it's having the discipline to stick to your schedule and to make a concerted effort to get it done. One thing I have found that works well is to schedule time to work on such a project at the most inconvenient time of the day -- you know, a time of day where you always have something that you really want to do like watching your favorite TV show or talking on the phone with friends or working out or whatever. Sounds counterintuitive, but what happens is the irritation of not being able to do what you want to do drives you to work through the project and get it done so you can go back to doing what you want to do as soon as possible. Give it a try and see how quickly you end up busting out your next term paper.

Answer 3

I'm not certain what you could exactly do but maybe breaking the project down into steps so as even if you procrastinate on those steps and wait until the last minute to do them you're still on track. Example: say you have a school paper due next month break the paper down into four parts one for each week and say your goal for the first week is to do the intro and so forth hope that makes sense.

Answer 4

I was an art student, so the whole "write a paper" thing was not really one of my problems. I busted my *ss in college, but when I was really out of time and totally screwed, I drank while I worked. It didn't improve the piece, but my attitude about being behind got better. Plus, I find that I don't get tired while I'm drinking, so I could stay up and finish stuff. The problem always became getting to class the next day. I either showed up still drunk, seriously hungover, or forgot to set the alarm at all, and missed it. Good luck.

Answer 5

I've been through what you're going through. I just think about the end results...that if i just finish, I know I tried my best.
You can always talk to professors. I find that if i shut off everything like not going out with friends and concentrate more, I tend to finish everything without so much pressure.
But overall, THINK about the end result and think about accomplishing and don't think about how stressed you....you might think it is easier saying it than doing it. Just try not to pile everything at the last minute because you should plan ahead. I think this works for me. let's say a paper is due 4 weeks from the date given, start on a rough draft during the weekends and do the easier work during the weekdays. good luck :)

Answer 6

I was gonna make a joke about telling you tomorrow, but I guess that's just TOO obvious...

I'm a huge procrastinator. The key is to get organized and get a schedule and a routine in place. Visit www.flylady.com. You may think her advice is just for housewives because it is mostly about housecleaning and stuff like that but the principles apply to every aspect of life. And if you procrastinate at schoolwork, then you probably procrastinate bills and housekeeping, too (like me!) so it could help you establish good habits now for when you run your own household.

Answer 7

Just do it and get it done when it counts, and then as a treat, let yourself procrastinate the small stuff - a few friends can go unphoned for a day or two, the laundry pile unlaundered.

That way you can feel like you're not in the army or anything, and can still let a few things go. :-)

Answer 8

Just do it.

When you get an assignment, BEFORE you even go home, go to the library and get started. Finding one book or reference will get the ball rolling.

I'm a huge procrastinator but when we had our daughter I started having to do more chores when there was time, and not when I necessarily wanted to do them. I would come home from work, do the dishes, do the bottles, switch the laundry, and sometimes vacuum before Ieven thought about watching TV.

Answer 9

Come up with a daily schedule, breaking long term goals into managable short term goals. You will find it easier to focus on the smaller goals and these will help your confidence.

Answer 10

I mean this in all sincerity: Stop piddling time away here. Figure out what your list of priorities is. Rank order them. Start with 1, then work down. Put the list somewhere prominent.