Students doing homework in the Dunbar Library | Photo by Jessica Fugett | The Wright State Guardian
A new semester means new beginnings and a fresh start. Put your best foot forward with these tips on avoiding procrastination to have a successful semester.
Study groups
During the first week or two of classes, introduce yourself to your classmates and form a small study group for each class. Or at least find a study partner. Studying with other people will hold you accountable, making sure that you actually put time in to study or work on homework assignments. Additionally, having someone in your class to ask for help when a subject confuses you will help you succeed.
Study before anything else
This rule sounds like a given when it comes to ending procrastination, but when you actually follow it, it is a game changer. Are you going out with friends later? Do homework or study first. Want to binge watch an entire new series on Netflix all weekend? Do all your studying first on Friday. If you don’t have plans that can follow studying, you should try to make some. Not only does this give you a reason to complete your schoolwork in a timely matter, but it makes you more social and active during the week.
Go to the library after class
It’s tempting to go straight back to your dorm or back home after classes to take a well-deserved nap. Instead of doing this, head to the library after class and work on any homework and studying that needs to be completed that day. Going to the library, a place designed for studying and concentration, will make you much more likely to finish all your work for the day. Afterwards, you can jump into bed and take the best nap ever knowing that all your responsibilities are out of the way.
Set a timer
If you concentrate better in private rather than at the library surrounded by other students, set an alarm and only focus on studying during that time while at your dorm. Set your alarm for half an hour and complete as much as you can in that time frame, take a 10-minute break, then study again for another half hour. Continue this process until all your work is done or your brain gets too tired; whichever comes first. This way, you’ll be able to study in a quiet space while having a reason to stay focused.
Do the homework for classes on the day you have them
It can be easy to fall into the routine of doing Monday’s homework on Tuesday and Tuesday’s homework on Wednesday and so on when you’re on a block schedule. But this routine only leads to bigger procrastination. After classes each day, do whatever needs to get done for those classes. With this method, everything will get done as soon as possible and you will stay more organized.
It’s normal to procrastinate a little bit here and there. But it’s important to not let it get the better of you. Try these tricks, or find new ones that work for you, and have a productive semester.
