“Just 30 more seconds and I'll start studying”. Before you know it, the seconds turn into minutes, which drag into hours… All too soon, the day is over and you’re left with unaccomplished and frustrated feelings.
Find the above scenario familiar? Before you start feeling guilty, wait a second. We’re not here to stress you out further. Procrastination is actually a natural response to stress and anxiety. Unlike what most people think, it’s not a sign of laziness.
If you struggle with procrastination, Advice is once again here to help! Today, we have 4 simple tips to help you manage your lack of motivation!
Spread your priorities out
Space your deadlines out evenly and fill your day with a balance of high-priority and low-priority tasks. Plan out a daily study list and allocate reasonable timeframes for each task. This will help you stay on track with items that you might tend to put off.
Break large tasks down into smaller ones
We all have that one assignment which is extremely overwhelming to even start. Hence, we suggest that you focus on one part at a time. For instance, if you have an upcoming proposal to submit, break it down into the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, and tackle these parts step by step. Soon, you’ll realise that your assignment is in fact, a piece of cake!
Start with the ones you dread the most
Did you know that we are the most focused in the morning? Thus, make full use of this mental boost to tackle your most challenging tasks. As the day goes by and your energy dissipates, you can complete simpler assignments which require less focus.
Change your environment
Different environments have significant impacts on your productivity. Once our environment becomes inconducive, we are more likely to get easily distracted from the task at hand. Is your study desk cluttered with piles of worksheets? Or has your bed become your workspace? If so, consider improving your environment! In fact, there are a multitude of study cafes and libraries available in Singapore that you can check out! Some possible study spots include The Book Cafe, MUJI Cafe & Meal, and Library@Orchard.
Despite an initial deadline of 7 months, Leonardo da Vinci took 16 years to complete the famous Mona Lisa painting. Yes, anyone, even the most influential people, can struggle with procrastination. So, while it’s natural to procrastinate, let’s all strive to reduce our distractions little by little and be more productive everyday!
Best of luck,
Advice
Written by: Peng Yi Xuan Tricia (21S61)
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