6 ways to stop procrastinating and get things done

We’ve all been there. You have a test to study for, but it’s weeks away. It would probably be fine if you delayed your studying for a little while. The deadline creeps closer and closer, until one day, mid-way through a game of Minecraft, you realise: the test is tomorrow. You haven’t studied at all. If this sounds like you, then try out some of these strategies to help you stop procrastinating.

Smaller is better

One of the main causes of procrastination a feeling of being overwhelmed. When a task seems difficult and time-consuming, you’re probably not going to want to do it. Because of this, make sure you break down the things you’re meant to do. If you have to prepare for an exam, break the goal down into smaller tasks, like making summary sheets or doing practice questions.

Avoid distractions

The best way to prevent procrastination is to put yourself in a situation where you’re unable to procrastinate. Essentially, you need to remove any and all distractions. Put your phone in another room, tell people not to bother you, or wear noise-cancelling headphones. This way, even if you might want to procrastinate, you won’t be able to!

Take breaks

According to Cornell Health, purposeful breaks are imperative to maintaining focus while studying. However, keep in mind the “purposeful” part. No, scrolling thorugh Instagram is not purposeful at all- except if you’re following me 😉 Instead, do these self-care ideas during your break!

As well as this, remember to keep your breaks short but frequent, so you stay in the study-mindset and it doesn’t take you too long to refocus after your break.

Set deadlines

By setting internal deadlines for the tasks you have to complete, you prevent yourself from saying “I’ll study soon” or “I’ll finish this essay later“. This is because now, you have a date by which this task must be completed. Preferably, don’t set your deadlines too far away – more than a month, and you’ll probably keep procrastinating.

Find an accountability partner

If you’ve broken down your task and you’ve set deadlines, it might feel like you’ve tried every strategy under the sun. However, you can always find an accountability partner. This is a friend who is aware of your goals and deadlines, and who you talk to about your progress. There don’t even have to be any rewards or punishments! Just the simple fact that someone else is expecting you to finish the task can motivate you to finish it!

Utilise rewards

Everyone prefers the carrot over the stick, especially procrastinators! Rewarding yourself for completing a task can be incredibly useful in preventing procrastination, especially if you enjoy instant gratification. Make sure your reward is more appealing than not doing the task, since it might not work otherwise!