Studying has never been easy, but in today’s world of Internet, social networking and smart phones, it is easier than ever for students to get distracted and procrastinate. Most students, even older students, have trouble keeping their minds on the task at hand. So today, I present 6 simple tips to avoid procrastination.
1. Get the worst out of the way
Procrastination is a common way of putting off something difficult or stressful. Encourage your child to avoid this by getting the worst task out of the way first. It is always better to get the hard work done as soon as possible; otherwise, your child will be worrying about it all day anyway.
2. Preparation is the Key
If students are not prepared for the task at hand, it is very easy to get distracted. How often have you heard phrases such as “I can’t write my essay now, I left my book at school,” or “I can’t work now, I need to get something to eat and grab a pen that works.” Encourage your child to make sure they are 100% prepared before they start working. They should have all the resources that they need in front of them so that they don’t have to stop working for any unnecessary reasons.
3. Set an achievable goal
The key to avoiding procrastination is knowing what needs to be done, and when it’s OK to call it quits. For this reason, it is vital that your child sets goals before they sit down to work. Instead of just “working on my essay”, they should plan to “finish a good copy of the first 3 paragraphs of my essay.” The more specific and achievable the goal is, the less likely it is that they will give up early and get distracted.
4. Allow for breaks
Students are not machines; they can not work all day and all night. It is important to take a small break at least every hour or so to eat, drink, relax, exercise or get some fresh air. Without this valuable leisure time, the mind grows weary and is much more easily distracted. Interestingly enough, a small break can often save time in the long run.
5. Share goals
The more that students share their goals with their family and friends, the less likely it is that they will give up on those goals. Students who share what they are doing and what they are working on are more likely to be motivated and encouraged to work hard, because they know that other people are paying attention. For this reason, it is a good idea to be interested in your child’s work; ask them what they are doing, and what they hope to achieve.
6. Do something!
The hardest part of starting a large assignment is getting started. There is nothing more intimidating than a blank page. Often students get anxious about starting an assignment, because they want everything they write to be perfect. This can lead to students avoiding the work altogether. The best way to start a large task is just to accept that the first draft will not be perfect and write, write, write. Even if it’s bad, it can be improved upon later.
Those are my tips.
How do you avoid procrastination?
If you have any suggestions, personal stories or some questions, feel free to let us know!
