Campus Life: Ways to Avoid Procrastination in College
By Kelly Leslie, Student at San Francisco State University
Are you going through a second semester slump? This is normal for everyone, especially those of us who spend our class periods daydreaming about spring break under the warm sun.
It’s easy to get carried away, but with these tips about avoiding procrastination, you will be back on track in no time.
Change Up Your Location
If you find yourself losing focus at home, try getting out of the house for a little while. Most people think home is the best place to study, but this is not always the case. With the TV, the computer and noisy roommates, getting work done can be anything but easy. Look for a place that is quiet and where you won’t know anyone. I always find that going to the library helps me focus the best.
Don’t Give Into Temptation
Do you find yourself on Facebook or Pinterest all hours of the night when you should be focusing on schoolwork? Social networking is one of the greatest distractions of all time! It’s great to stay up on the latest celebrity gossip and tag all of your friends in your newest photo album, but this needs to come second to school. If you are having a hard time keeping yourself off of the Internet, try to do your homework without the computer and type up the assignment after you finish. You can even download software on your computer that will temporarily block Facebook for you. This may seem extreme, but sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Set Deadlines for Yourself
It always seems easier to put off a project until the last minute, but this just leads to more stress in the long run. If you know the due date for a big project or test is coming up, set deadlines for yourself so that you do a little bit at a time. Mark the deadlines in your calendar and make sure you stick with them. Treat yourself to a mani/pedi or even a night out with the girls when you accomplish what you set out to do.
Join a Study Group
Sometimes it helps to study with other people, even if you are not working on the same homework. As long as the group you choose is equally as motivated to get their homework done, you can hold each other accountable for using your study time wisely. Set a time frame for the group and set out to get as much done as possible while you are there.
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