Stay motivated and avoid procrastination

Sometimes, we can feel overwhelmed at the idea of starting a huge task such as a 1,000-word essay. Treating your assignment (or other daunting activity) as a series of small tasks helps to reduce this feeling. This is because each small step is progress towards your goal. Your sense of accomplishment is likely to reduce the feeling of overwhelm AND help you to avoid procrastinating.

First consider the steps involved in your task. If you need to write an essay, for example, you may follow the steps involved in the writing process [helpsheet, PDF - 160KB], which include:

• topic analysis  
• research 
• drafting 
• feedback 
• editing and polishing.

Ensure you allocate time to each task. This enables you to create a set of small deadlines for yourself, so you can approach the task piece by piece.

Reward yourself for your achievements. For example, if you’ve broken your task into smaller parts, you could gather rewards as you complete each part. The key is to be strict about the system; don’t let it unravel by giving yourself the treat when you didn’t do the work.  

Make the reward something special so that it means more for you. If you enjoy ice-cream, for example, allow yourself a scoop after writing 250 words each night. You could then also give yourself a larger reward for completing the overall task, or for working consistently. Go to the movies, bake your favourite cake, see a friend, or do something else you enjoy. 

Remember that the goal is to finish the task you have set yourself; use treats as an incentive to achieve that end.

Managing your time is about how to use your time effectively. Scheduling your daily and weekly activities is not about locking yourself into a suffocating routine of work; rather, it is about allowing yourself space to do those things that help you stay well and motivated. If you have a family, and/or a job, and/or hobbies, being a student as well will mean being organised. You can find a way to make it work; it will just need some planning. 

Planning

Using a visual aid such as a wall planner is a great way to remind you of the big picture. Seeing the whole year or semester is one way to keep on top of the tasks you need to complete. It is also an effective tool for planning, particularly by adding academic and social deadlines. You’ll quickly see which weeks of semester may dampen your social life. 

On your calendar, include things like: 

• semester dates
• assignment due dates
• exam times
• personal events.

Adding these commitments to a yearly planner gives you a structure to work around. Crossing items off as they are completed will help you feel a sense of progress. 

While this is great for the big picture, a wall planner does not have space for the details of your tasks. Consider using a diary also, in which you can break down your tasks into the smaller, practical ones you’ll need to do to get your work done.

You can’t generally fix a problem you don’t recognise. The first step is noticing. Typically, you will feel a nagging sensation that you should be doing that assignment. The washing or cleaning might ‘suddenly’ become more important (and who ever feels excited about that?). This kind of random desire is a likely sign that you are about to procrastinate. Once you recognise the behaviour, it will be easier to manage.  

It might help to know why you are procrastinating. Very often, students procrastinate for two key reasons: perfectionism and / or fear.  

Perfectionism

If you tend to set high standards for yourself and your work, you might be more prone to procrastination. This can be due to worry about failing to meet the standards you have set for yourself. A ‘perfect’ essay, for example, is rarely written in the first draft because writing, like many things, is a process. Allow yourself to develop and improve your work, rather than expecting to get it right the first time. 

Fear

If you tend to worry about getting the task wrong, taking too long to complete it, failing, or generally not living up to your own expectations (and/or the expectations of others), you may also be at risk of procrastinating as a way of avoiding those uncomfortable feelings. 

Momentum is the key here; accepting a lower quality of writing in your first draft, for example, can motivate you to keep going because you have started and that is worth celebrating. Practice approaching your work with an attitude of nonchalance - allow yourself to make something messy and imperfect to start, and trust that you can fix it before you submit.

By focusing on output (doing the writing) and not quality (getting the writing ‘right’) you may find that you can bring yourself more easily to start – and complete – your tasks.

When you need to get work done, avoid or remove the things that distract you. This can range from studying in a quiet room to physically removing the distraction: unplug the modem if you’re addicted to checking Facebook or email. Turn off your phone or at least switch it to silent. 

It can help to define a study space that is free from distractions. The process of moving into this space can also help get you into the right head space to study.  

Alternatively, you may find that working in a public space, or body doubling with a friend or other students, is actually more conducive to focusing.