“I work better under pressure.”
“I can leave that for later.”
“I’m too tired to do this right now.”
Does this feel like you or someone you know? These are common statements that lead to or indicate procrastination. Most people procrastinate to some degree, but did you know that how much you procrastinate can have a direct correlation on your success in college?
According to a McGraw-Hill study on procrastination, there is a linear relationship between assignment start time and grades. The longer you wait, the lower your grade will (likely) be.
Un-learning Procrastination
The good news is that procrastination is a learned habit that can also be un-learned!
Once you recognize what tasks you tend to procrastinate, the next step towards breaking this tendency is to understand exactly why you might procrastinate a given task. Usually, the answer is fairly simple: the task is unpleasant. The task itself might be uninteresting, like washing dishes or doing laundry, but sometimes it can also seem overwhelming or unclear. Once you understand that procrastination is harmful, understanding why you procrastinate can help you problem find a solution.
Procrastinating Unpleasant Tasks
While there may not be a way to make the task itself any less unpleasant, perhaps there are ways to create a more enjoyable environment when performing it. You could put on some music that you enjoy, promise to treat yourself after completing the task, or invite a friend to sit with you while you do it.
Procrastinating Overwhelming Tasks
If the problem is that the task seems overwhelming, try breaking the task down and start with the simplest part. For the huge pile of dishes, for example, it might seem overwhelming to wash everything but less daunting to get some hot soapy water running and wash one dish. Simply getting started sets you up better to finish!
Procrastinating Confusing Tasks
Now, when a task like homework seems confusing, try making it clearer by dividing it into chronological steps. Often, just knowing where to start and how to move forward helps you understand the task more clearly.
Finally, if you are a North Central student, don’t hesitate to ask your professors or the Student Success Center for help in fighting procrastination!
