“I still have a lot of time!” – That comes to mind every semester when I think about the next exam. What happens next is annoying and frustrating: I keep putting off learning and feel extreme time pressure just before the exam. If only I had started studying sooner! Do you feel the same? I have the miracle cure for procrastination: tips that can be implemented quickly and that will help you to be well prepared for the exam!
1st Tip: Self-Forgiveness Increases Motivation
You have to forgive yourself for procrastinating! Only if you can forgive yourself for the procrastination will you start again and stick to your plans. You’re probably reading this article because you’ve already put off studying and you’re uncomfortable with the thought of not quitting procrastination soon. Do you feel guilty and regret procrastinating? Perfect! Then you have already taken the first two steps to recovery. You have recognized that when you procrastinate you are violating your own principles and accepted that you are responsible for it. When you have recognized these two things, you can take the final step: forgive yourself.
You must overcome feelings of remorse and guilt and accept your past behavior. Why is self-forgiveness so important? Self-forgiveness leads to better learning behavior in two ways: Your negative feelings about learning decrease. You probably associated these negative feelings not only with learning but also with the subject matter. If you are in a better emotional state now, you will no longer find the subject matter unpleasant and will therefore be more positive about it. This in turn means that you don’t avoid it!
Also, self-forgiveness makes you feel more committed to changing your behavior in the future. By forgiving yourself, you simply increase your motivation to learn! but also associated with the subject matter. If you are in a better emotional state now, you will no longer find the subject matter unpleasant and will therefore be more positive about it. This in turn means that you don’t avoid it!
And just in case, you feel positive now but still struggle with your essay or another important written task you should consider getting help from an essay writer. With the help of professionals, you will be able to create a high-quality essay in a blink of an eye and don’t lose your positive mindset.
2nd Tip: Set Your Own Deadlines – Finally Achieve Your Goals!
The biggest problem is the time distance to the exam or the deadline for the homework. The deadline is far away, so we don’t have enough time pressure to start right away. We underestimate the time left and overestimate our abilities. The data is stored in our brains as meaningless numbers. The time frame defined by the exam date is much too abstract for us. If we’re not very interested in a task and it doesn’t force immediate action – then we put it off! But does that have to be? Of course not! The trick is as simple as it is effective: we have to artificially reduce the time interval. There is a method that has been shown to be effective in numerous studies. We have to set our own deadlines! Instead of a deadline for the overall result, you should set several small deadlines. You create concrete and achievable intermediate goals from a vague objective. These are easier to track and ultimately help you meet your deadline with ease. In addition, you need less time to achieve your individual goals, which is why you experience success faster and work more motivated on the next goal.
The Deadline Sprint Hack
- Write down your deadline and calculate how much time you have until the deadline. (It’s best if you state weeks.
- Divide the remaining time into several equal units. (A unit can consist of 5 or 7 days, for example.)
- The end of each unit represents a deadline. Write down the date and what needs to be done by then.
- Write down explicitly in bullet points what you have to do to meet the deadline.
- Reward yourself once you successfully meet your deadline. (For example, with sports, sweets, or your hobby.)
It can be that easy! Schedule your time right now and set the new deadlines. Once you’ve done that, nothing stands in the way of learning.
To Sum Up
These tips might seem too easy for you, but they are really working in terms of coping with procrastination. Try them yourself and you will see how your academic performance improves.
