Editor’s Advice on How to NOT Procrastinate
Finals week is here, and we all know how it feels to feel stressed out because of school work. Every project is due the same day and you need to figure out a way to manage your time and not go insane. Many of us are guilty of leaving everything to the last minute, which adds to our stress and leads to endless all-nighters. In this article, I share some tips to evade procrastination and try to have a much more enjoyable end of the quarter.
- Simplify your task:
My best advice is not to leave everything to the night before. If you know the assignment is very demanding, break it down into parts and simplify it. Then, you can work on each “piece” of the assignment every day leading up to the deadline. Having a list is excellent first step. You can plan what “piece” of the project you will work on each day and see how that leads to the deadline.
- Space out your assignments
At SCAD, the ideal class schedule has two classes, two days of the week and one class the remaining two. If you have two classes on Monday and Wednesday, you can work on your Tuesday and Thursday class assignments and vice versa. This way, you can balance out the workload. If you have three classes one day, try not to overwork yourself and maybe just do the most straightforward assignments on the heavily scheduled days. You can work on the most demanding projects during your free weekdays since you will have more time and be more rested. In addition to this, you should prioritize your work based on the class and each due date.
- Productive procrastination
We all have been in the position of dreading a project and not knowing how to begin. Instead of watching Netflix or playing games, it might be better to procrastinate while working on other projects so the workload doesn’t accumulate. Focusing on another task could also help your mind clear up and maybe receive inspiration to work on that challenging project. Just don’t leave it all to the last minute because great ideas don’t tend to happen overnight, under pressure, or with a lack of sleep.
- Remember that the learning curve and troubleshooting take time as well.
The time you need for troubleshooting and learning is undefined. I had to learn this the hard way. When managing time, keep in mind that there will be some time when you need to troubleshoot and embrace the learning curve, which varies depending on the task. Even when you plan a lot, things might not turn out your way, which is okay. You just need to remind yourself to breathe and work around these problems.
- Ask Questions!
We often procrastinate because we don’t understand what the work demands of us. Instead of dreading it and evading the uncomfortable conversation, ask your professors and peers so you can have a clearer picture of what the goal is. Putting yourself in this situation is more rewarding because you learn and grow. It is better than waiting until the last minute to ask a question and waste your time.
- Work but also include time to take care of yourself.
You are more productive when you take care of yourself. Balance work time and “me time.” Like my lighting professor mentioned: “When you are working for hours, take at least a 10-minute break every hour. In the industry, nobody will tell you to take a break” It is your responsibility to take care of yourself, which will lead you to be more efficient and motivated at your task.
If you tend to procrastinate often and want to change this habit, remember that this process won’t happen overnight. You can follow these tips regularly, and eventually, you will see change. Like everything, it takes time to improve. Sometimes you need to fall and rise back up again and learn the process the hard way. However, be kind to yourself and remember that discipline will help you master your time. Whenever you climb a step on this ladder of change, reward yourself; you deserve it!