With the holidays are here and holiday break, putting off homework assignments and such is OK. Enjoy the holidays with your family!
However, after the tree comes down and the eggnog is gone, we sometimes tend to procrastinate with the feeling of “oh, I will get to it.” How to avoid this?
We offer some tips to help you:
1. Why are you procrastinating?: First step to understanding an issue is to figure out why is it happening. What makes you stall out? Too much homework? Not sure what to do? Need the pressure to get going? Nerves? Whatever the reason, give it some thought and perhaps talk with an academic advisor, graduate or professor to get perspective and advice.
2. Stay focused: When doing class work, choose wisely where and when are working. Repeatedly placing yourself in situations where you don’t get much done and are easily distracted will lead to putting things off. Find a quiet place and time and own it.
3. Create a plan of action: Structure and organization is vital to function as an online student. One way is to create a study calendar based on the syllabus of each class you are taking. Set aside specific blocks of time to study certain subjects, do homework, complete assignments or take an exam. Stay aware of deadlines to avoid last-minute rushes or forgotten papers.
4. Keep goals in mind: Focus on what you want to do, not what you want to avoid. Think about the productive reasons for doing a task by setting positive, motivating goals to succeed.
5. Avoid feeling bored or frustrated: Keeping goals in mind can help you overcome some frustrations and boredom, but you might need to do more. Contact a Success Center specialist or professor to help you with very difficult problems. Get some air to clear your head. Try taking small bites out of the work—do a little here and there, but commit to doing a certain amount each time you sit down. This helps you stay on deadline and finish the work. You can reward yourself once the boring or frustrating task is done–just not too many desserts, please.
6. Find a study buddy: Whether it’s a family member, co-worker, friend or classmate, another person can help you stay on task. You could even set up a little friendly competition to motivate each other. Just remember to use the time wisely and don’t get distracted.
7. Work ahead when possible: To avoid procrastination, try to submit your assignments ahead of schedule. If you find yourself with an appointment or meeting canceled, use it to get ahead on your coursework. This can save you time when an emergency comes up and you can’t get to your homework or assignment.
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