Procrastination
Procrastination is the habitual avoidance of something that should be done. In other words, it means putting off a job for no good reason. We have all succumbed to procrastination at one time or another, but for some people, the problem of procrastinating frequently and significantly interferes with their lives. In this section, we are concerned with procrastination as it affects student studying skills. The following suggestions are meant to assist students from falling into this serious situation.
Factors Contributing to Procrastination
Depending on the task and the student, a number of factors can contribute to procrastination. Learning to recognize which factors are influencing you is the first step in overcoming procrastination and dealing with your task.
Some of the common reasons students procrastinate are as follows:
1. Time pressures.
2. Lack of interest in the class assignment.
3. Inability to recognize the importance or value of the assignment.
4. Uncertainty about how to approach the assignment.
5. Lack of prerequisite skills to complete the task.
6. Fear of the assignment.
7. Lack of willpower or self-discipline.Implications of Procrastination
Sometimes, the effects of procrastination are temporary and relatively unimportant; however, procrastination can cause significant problems in the long term. Following is a list of the effects of procrastination which may have a far reaching influence on your school life:
1. Failure to complete a task.
2. Failure to reap the rewards, both tangible and intangible, of a task.
3. Lowered self worth.
4. Size and duration of task.
5. Tendency to avoid participation in future activities.
6. Increased tendency to procrastinate in the future.Avoiding Procrastination
If you are the type of student who avoids doing things you know you need to do, there are strategies you can try which may help you overcome procrastination.
Make the Task Meaningful: Look at the benefits of completing the task. Also, decide how the task relates to your goals, both short and long term.
Break the Task into Parts: Break large tasks into small ones which can be accomplished in a shorter time. First, make a list of small parts of the task. Then, make a time line for completing small tasks. Finally, cross tasks off your list as you complete them.
Tell Someone: Announce publicly your intention to get the task done. Then, ask someone to regularly check whether you have completed the task or to suggest ways to get it done.
Find a Partner: If the task is one that could be done with a partner or in a group, find someone interested in doing the task with you. Each of you can work at motivating the other to keep going.
Find Rewards: Reward yourself when you legitimately complete the task, but be willing to withhold the reward if you don't do it.
Plunge into the Task: When you catch yourself procrastinating, immerse yourself in the task. Thinking about the task is often worse than doing it
Write an Intention Statement: On a piece of paper, write an intention statement which describes what you plan to get done and what your reward will be when you finish. Post the paper in your study area or carry it with you, so you can look at it often.
Evaluate the Importance of the Task: If the task is not important, decide not to do it. Don't beat yourself up about something you really don't intend to do.
Clifford Morris
July 14, 2002