Up@dawn 2.0

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Procrastination and Motivation (Or the lack thereof)

Installment #2
#10 Elise Smith
Image result for beat procrastination

The consequences of procrastination and how to beat it.

Procrastination results in many problems. Procrastinators are very good at wasting time, and that wasted time is lost time. It causes you to make poor decisions and damages your reputation of reliability. The effects also include reduced effectiveness, lost opportunity and lowered productivity. The short term effects seem common but long term procrastination results in much more serious long term problems.

Short Term

Short term effects include stress and anxiety. Also, bad grades are a short term effect. These alone do not seem serious but they can then lead to long term problems.

Long Term

Long term effects include not accomplishing goals which results in lower confidence and lowered self esteem which holds you back. It can also cause health problems such as insomnia, gastrointestinal issues and a higher susceptibility to cold/flu.




Procrastination is a habit and a very difficult one to break. It can have very serious effects and lead to many problems in the long term. Many studies have been done to figure out how to beat procrastination and here are some of the suggestions.

Change your mindset

Changing your mindset can help beat procrastination is several ways. In two studies by John Lewis Jr. and Daphna Oyserman, they found that changing units of time helped procrastinators. For example changing two days to 48 hours makes the deadline seem more immediate. Also, change your mindset about the task. Instead of thinking about how difficult or boring it may be, make it positive. Think about how getting it done will help you.

Set a deadline

Identify your goal and set a deadline as many procrastinators are deadline motivated (aka the panic monster). Break the task into several parts and make a to do list. By completing several smaller tasks, the assignment or goal seems less daunting or overwhelming. Also by crossing off several items on a to do list you will feel a sense of accomplishment. Begin with the most difficult task but find something pleasant in it to start with. It will get you interested in it.

Fear

Procrastinators are often motivated by fear. So use fear to your advantage. Be accountable to someone other than yourself so that there will be someone else you are letting down as well. Imagine what will happen if you do not complete the task at hand. Whether it be a bad grade, not getting into the college you want or no getting the job you want, think about how it will affect your long term goals. Focus on the “why” of the task.

Rewards

After completing tasks give yourself a small reward. It could be anything from spending time with friends or a social media break to a small snack or piece of candy. This will give you more motivation to complete each task on your list.

Many people struggle with procrastination and it can have very serious effects in the long term. Lower self esteem, anxiety and not accomplishing goals are just a few. There are several suggested ways to beat procrastination but you have to find one that works for you. In the end you must just stop making excuses and be realistic with your goals.

What works for you?

Video: https://youtu.be/4P785j15Tzk

Sources:
http://mihsislander.org/2016/04/procrastination/

6 comments:

  1. As a fellow procrastinator I have to say that you're spot on, and I truly believe your tips are simple solutions that can make a huge impact in a students education.

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  2. I am really bad at procrastinating!! What works for me is getting at least half of what I have to do done so i'm not scrambling to do everything last minute.

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  3. I have to say as a lifelong procrastinator, I can't do anything unless I feel the pressure to do it. While i hate doing things last minute, I just need that extra boost that having a time table gives me to complete my work.

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  4. The best way for me to stop procrastinating is to just start. Usually I'll rationalize not waiting by telling myself I won't be stressed after it's done. It normally doesn't help though haha. Thanks for the tips nonetheless!

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  5. Honestly this year I've gotten a lot better with procrastination. After recieving a bad grade on an english paper i did the night before, i realized i need to get my stuff together . But honestly just forcing yourself to sit down and do some work is the only way to do it.

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  6. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I have lived by the saying "If today is not the due date, today is not the do date." I have such a terrible procrastination problem that I never thought I could get rid of. It feels as though everything piles up at once and I just sit back and let the weight of all my responsibilities become overwhelming to the point where I'm rushing assignments and work that needs to be done. But, after reading your post I realize I now need to get it together. Fantastic tips, by the way!

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