Written by Bri Willis
So, you’ve found yourself procrastinating again and you’re trying to overcome it? That’s okay, we’ve all been there. In fact, I’m always there. However, because of that, I know a few tricks and tips to help you overcome procrastination.
By itself, procrastination isn’t the biggest problem, it’s making sure it stays manageable and you’re able to overcome it. There are the classic strategies such as the Pomodoro Technique, breaking down tasks and the Swiss Cheese Model. But in this blog, I’ll go over my own remedies for stubborn procrastination spells.
Utilising apps
In my second year, I was not the most consistent at studying; in fact, I procrastinated from revising a lot. One thing that helped was an app that my housemates introduced me to, called YPT. The idea is simple: you join study rooms with a timer which locks everything else on your device, removing any distractions. I should’ve known this would work because I was a Flora fiend during my sixth form days.
As well as this, between my housemates, we built up a ‘healthy’ competitive relationship with one another to see who could study the most in a day. By turning the task into a competition, it felt less intimidating to tackle and got me out of that ‘stuck’ feeling. My revision time went from zero hours a day to an average of 6 hours.
Whilst there was no real reward for doing this, my brain treated a “win” as one. It taught me that the key is to strive for delayed gratification over instant as the latter only lasts for a short amount of time and is ineffective in the long run.
Another app I like is ‘On Track’ which depicts a train ride that you ‘watch’ from the window while you work. This sparks no competitive spirit in me, but it certainly sets the mood for studying. I’m sure you’ve heard of the phrase ‘romanticise your life.’ As ridiculous as it sounds, it does help. Imagine yourself in the place where you want to be and strive for that goal. I’ve known people who’ve channelled the studious spirit of Rory Gilmore and have seen results in their own way. Whatever inspires you, hold onto that and turn it into your motivation to push yourself further.
Routine and external support
We often procrastinate tasks like revision because it’s something outside of our usual routine. Setting aside a few hours a day for studying (or simply ‘tasks that need doing’) will teach your brain to be more tolerable to it instead of actively resisting it.
The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes on, 5 minutes off) works best for me when paired with a routine. Otherwise, I get a bit hasty and it quickly becomes 5 minutes studying and 25 minutes lazing about. I usually combine Pomodoro with the YPT timer when I’m studying with a friend. That way they can hold me accountable if they see me drifting from the original goal. For me, my friends are a big driving force when it comes to studying. I want to be on equal standing with them, so I try and catch up and I’m lucky enough that they support me by taking my phone away when they see me drifting.
I would also recommend study groups as they help to keep you accountable whilst creating an environment where you feel like you must focus. Personally, I prefer smaller groups (three people max) because larger ones can get distracting which defeats the purpose. It all depends entirely on what works for you.
Final Thoughts
I’ve tried it all, from shoes indoors to ‘trick’ my brain into productivity mode, to using the same pen to create study association. These are just a few of the things that work for me, but at the end of the day, there’s no singular way to overcome procrastination.
It’s less about motivation and more about discipline. Motivation by itself can only take you so far, and I hope these titbits can help you even a little bit. However, it’s important to seek external help if procrastination is negatively impacting you and your grades.
Remember, change doesn’t happen overnight. Just because one method didn’t work doesn’t mean nothing will.
See you next time!