If 15 minutes still sounds too intimidating, do something for just 3 minutes. [2] X Research source Once you come up for air, take a two-minute break. Then start up on another set of 15 minutes of work.
For example, instead of thinking, “I need to finish this essay before 10 PM tonight,” tell yourself, “I’m going to make a short outline, fill that in, and then look for quotes. ” Consider trying a specific technique like pomodoro, where breaks happen at planned intervals. [5] X Research source Avoid making a long, disorganized to-do list. This is just setting yourself up for failure. Instead, create subcategories like “Home,” “Work,” “Family,” and “Fun” and just try to cross off a few entries from each list every day.
Figure out when you are most motivated and alert and plan out your day so you use this time best. For example, if you’re a morning person, do your toughest work right after you wake up. On the other hand, if you tend to be groggy in the morning, you risk making careless errors or frustration by going headfirst into a difficult task.
Self-talk by saying something like, “Jenny, I know this week has been hard and you’re tired. You’ve written a million essays before, and you’re going to rock this. ”[7] X Research source You can also ask yourself questions: “Jenny, why are you nervous about this? You know you can handle it. ” Self-talk out loud if you can. It’ll also work in your head if you’re in a public place.
Guilt and regret are draining emotions. Wasting time yelling at yourself for not starting that 2,000-word essay two weeks ago will only make you extra tired and frustrated. It will also stress you out, likely making it impossible for you to finish your assignment at that time.
This may be the library, a coffee shop, your local bookstore, or a home office.
AppDetox is the best choice for quick fixes. Yelling Mom allows you to set a time for the app to start nagging you to start something. Procraster prompts you to identify the source of your procrastination and then gives you advice about the problem. A simple timer app can also be used to designate how long you intend to work and then how long your break will be. When the timer goes off, switch tasks quickly and stick to your plan.
For all devices and operating systems, try Freedom. For Mac, Self-Control allows you to block a list of websites during times you’re supposed to be working. And it’s free! For Windows, go with Cold Turkey. It’s free, but to get the best features, it costs a one time fee of about $20. For free options, choose StayFocused for Chrome browsers or LeechBlock for Firefox.
If you need to keep your phone on for family or work-related reasons, turn off all your notifications except for texts and/or calls.
Put this list on paper. Even if you use your phone for all of your other lists, from groceries to birthday wishes, don’t put this list on there. The act of writing out your tasks is key to thinking through how to finish them.
Include everything you need to get done in your planner. Say that on Friday your final biology project is due. Set aside at least three nights to finish it. You’ve also got to go to the pharmacy and pick up a new toothbrush and vitamins before you leave for vacation. Do this on Thursday night. You’re also taking the SAT in a month, so spend at least three hours this week practicing vocab. Try using a strategy like the Eisenhower Box for prioritizing your tasks in an efficient way. Basically, you categorize all you have to do into four categories: tasks that must be done immediately, tasks that can be done later (or rescheduled), tasks that can be delegated to someone else and tasks that aren’t important and can be eliminated. The strength of this strategy is that it works well with the tasks you must complete in a given day, but also on longer timescales, like weeks or months. [18] X Research source
You can plan fun outings with your buddy to reward both of you when you meet your goals. If you keep procrastinating, cancel these events as a little bit of punishment.
