Everyone's a Citizen of Procrasti-Nation! [Part 2]

I know some (or most) of you peeps are waiting earnestly for the continuation of my previous post. Over the past 7 days or so, you probably checked back here more than once a day to see if I've updated my blog, but did you realise that you were procrastinating in the process? =p Sad to say, blog-hopping and mindless Facebook-profile-stalking are just two examples of the common procrastinator's habits. =D Thus, *drum rolls*, I've prepared some strategies to help you combat your procrastination tendencies. However, before we get there, you need to know how you procrastinate... because it can be tough to tell when you are doing it. Too often, we don't even realize that we are procrastinating — until it's too late.

How do you procrastinate?

• Try to ignore the task, hoping against hope that it will go away?
• Over- or under-estimate the degree of difficulty that the task involves?
  
• Minimize the impact that your performance now may have on your future?
  
• Substitute something important for something really important? (For example, cleaning instead of studying or doing your assignment(s).)
• Let a short break become a long one, or an evening in which you do no work at all? (For example, claiming that you are going to watch TV for ½ hour, then watching it all night.)
• Focus on one part of your studies/assignment(s), at the expense of the rest?

Create a productive environment.

• Find a place to work where you have at least half a chance of actually getting some work done.
• If you have a laptop computer, try going someplace where you can't connect to the Internet (e-mail and the Web are the bane of the procrastinator's existence—as you probably already know).
• If you are a procrastinator, then chances are you are already pretty exasperated; don't risk frustrating yourself even more by trying to write in an environment that doesn't meet your needs.
  
• Consider when you will write. When are you most alert? Try to schedule writing time when you know you will be at your best.

Break it down.

• The moment you get the assignment (ideally), or shortly thereafter, break the writing assignment up into the smallest possible chunks.
• This is the concept of mind over matter i.e. the paper never has a chance to take on gargantuan proportions in your mind

Get a new attitude.

• Changing our attitude toward the task, when possible, may go a long way toward keeping us from procrastinating.
• Tell yourself that the task isn't so bad or difficult, that you either know how to do it, or that you can learn how while you're doing it.
• Start early on a particular assignment; simply starting to write can often help us feel more positive about writing.

Ask for help.

• Get an anti-procrastination coach: from the supportive people in your life. Tell someone about your writing goal and timeline, and ask them to help you determine whether or not your plan is realistic.
  
• Get an accountability buddy. See if you can find a friend to work alongside you.
• For assignments, get help with your writing if you think you are a weak writer. Ask someone (a Writing Center tutor, a current or former professor or teaching assistant, a friend) to help you improve.
  

Get unblocked.
Sometimes, we procrastinate because we feel "stuck" when studying a particular subject or when working on a particular section of an assignment. If this happens, you have 2 options:

• Write the easiest part first. You don't have to start at the beginning. Whatever section you can do, do it! If you think that's wimpy, and you would rather do the hardest part first so that you can get it out of the way, that's fine—whatever works for you. If you start writing and you get stuck, write about why you're stuck.
• Talk it out. Try tape-recording yourself speaking the ideas you want to include in the paper, and then transcribe the tape.

Get some fresh air to clear your head.

• Personally, I take occasional walks around Monash in between studying or doing assignments whenever I feel the need to; be it for the change of scenery or the fresh breeze available outside the med lab/library.
• Exercise frequently or as often as you can!
  

Leave your work out

• Keeping your work (books, notes, etc.) physically out, in full view, gives you a reminder that you are either need to study, are in the middle of an assignment, or both.
• The fact remains that you may also need to start doing work.
• Also, if you write in more than one shift, it can be helpful to leave off in the middle of a paragraph and leave your 'tools' where they are. When you return to the paper, you'll be able to "warm up" by finishing that paragraph. Starting a new section cold may be more difficult.

That's all I'll leave with you folks for now. Rest assured that if requested by popular demand, I will write Part 3. =) Till then... tata & take care!

p.s. All the best to those sitting for their exams in the next few weeks!! It is a critical period of the year for all Monashians especially, so STOP procrastinating people!! Finish all those dreaded assignments and study to da max!!

~Tim~