Are you cleaning windows instead of writing your essay? Procrastination is an avoidance behavior that involves putting off homework and other tasks to "do it later." However, procrastination puts you in a bad spot, as you fall behind schedule in your tasks and will probably lead to a lot of painful anxiety.
Procrastination is a way for your unconscious mind to speak up. You probably feel like you have so much to do that you can't even bear to get started, and therefore you do nothing. Unfortunately it becomes a vicious spiral, because, as a student you are constantly given new tasks and fall even further behind, leading to even more stress and more anxiety.
To avoid the problem of new assignments, it is possible to take a short study break to catch up on the workload without worrying about more being added. It's an okay (and maybe necessary) solution sometimes, but it doesn't protect you from ending up in the same situation again.
Often, procrastination is a consequence of insufficient study technique, as an explanation for why it feels hard to study. If you have powerful methods, studying will feel much easier and doable.
Here are study techniques that will help you avoid procrastination for good. If the core problem is feeling of "too much or too hard to do", then the solution is to "lower the thresholds", that is, to make it easier for you to study and getting started.
Do you have to do everything? Think about what is really important and remove everything unnecessary. Don't be too hard on yourself.
Avoid cramming, sessions where you study for too long or do too much at one time. If it's too hard to study, your subconscious wants to escape (and then you won't get anything done at all). Instead, realize that a small step is better than nothing. For example: choose to study for half an hour at a time, for a total of two hours, and then be completely free for the rest of the day (with a clear conscience and a feeling of accomplishment).
If you have a large and demanding task in front of you, such as writing an essay, then try to divide the problem into small and manageable tasks. It could look like this:
Example: Writing an essay, sub-goal.
I will:
Surely it feels easier to write half a page (point 2 in the example) than to try and squeeze out an entire essay at once?. This milestone can be the goal for that day.
However, make sure that you actually write down the milestones so that they are visible and clear (if they aren't written down, they don't count! And many fail by choosing too unclear milestones. You want to set concrete milestones, ones that you can objectively determine whether you have finished or not. You should be able to tick them off.
It might be a good idea to start your study session with your most difficult task and use this technique for milestones. This is to quickly get rid of your biggest worry so you won't have to think about it all the time. Even just working in the right direction can decreases your stress, feel the relief.
Give yourself a reward after each completed sub-goal, it has a psychological positive reinforcement effect and you will always have something to look forward to after each study session. Many small and quick rewards are better than one large that is far in the future (your brain responds best to immediate rewards). Find a way that works for you. Relaxation? Playing games? Good food? Be creative.
A friend of mine used to line up skittles, a type of candy, in a long row and when he finished reading a page in his book, he could have one.
Why fight the problem alone? Especially since you're not alone in procrastinating, it's quite common. A friend can support you and give you a push in the right direction as you encourage each other. You also create a positive pressure as you don't want to let each other down, therefore getting your part done.
I would recommend that you begin your study session fairly soon after you wake up, as to quickly give yourself a feeling of having done something meaningful today. Action is a good cure for stress and anxiety. And as the anxiety fades away, you also get more strength and energy back.
Overthinking and stressing yourself out by thinking "I have so much to do" will not improve the situation. It is better to be focuses in the present and do your best in the moment. There is an old saying that goes: "If you always have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye left to guide you along the way".
Any topic can be interesting if you give it an honest chance. Those who wrote the book or those who work in that field probably find it exciting. Can you try to view it from their perspective and find the charm they see?
By studying on a routine basis, you can automate your studying and it becomes a good habit. The body knows what to do and you have an easier time getting started. Preferably by studying in the same way, at the same time and in the same place, every day. It becomes like a trigger that puts you in study-mode.
Now you have many great techniques to manage and overcome your procrastination. Gradually everything will become easier and easier, as you get more used to the techniques and the procrastination disappears. Take a deep breath and feel proud.
P.S
Another way to get started more easily is to use the so-called Cliffhanger technique
…but more on that in another post (see what I did there?)