Have you ever sat in your room, trying with all your might to study … but, instead, you find yourself on facebook, g-chatting with a friend, or reading up on your favorite celebrity?  In these times, have you watched hours slip out of your hands, with nothing checked off your “to do” list … but not having any “real fun” either? 

The good news is, like most bad habits, procrastination can be overcome.  And I have a few suggestions for how to get rid of this nuisance once and for all:

Schedule (work and) FUN. 

It often seems natural to put all the things we MUST do on our calendar, and squeeze in those things we’d like to do around our commitments.  However, if you find procrastinating activities creeping into the “open” blocks on your schedule, try scheduling some fun time. Scheduling your down-time will accomplish two goals:  first, while working, you’ll be happier knowing you have something specific to look forward to.  Second, you’ll be more motivated to get the work done, so you can enjoy your fun. After all, brussel sprouts are always more bearable when you have cake to follow.

(This can be anything – from hiking to practicing the piano, to just watching TV with friends.  All that matters is that it is something you enjoy, and that you commit to following through on your planned fun.)

 Set BITE-SIZED goals

It’s often overwhelming to think about writing an entire paper, or spending the next indefinite time period in a dreary, dead-silent library.  However, if you break your work down into segments, the job can more easily be accomplished.  For example, try saying that you will write the first page in the next hour.  Once you meet this goal, you can set the next.

As Lao Tzu eloquently stated, “a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

CATALYZE the reaction

“What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."

Often procrastination is the result of an inability to BEGIN.  The good news is that this is an easy problem to solve.  Promise yourself that you will work for the next fifteen minutes (on your paper, math homework, etc.)  At the end of this 15 minute block, you may be surprised to find that you’re into what you’re doing.

Like a non-spontaneous chemical reaction, a certain activation energy is required to get the reaction going, which can be hard to gather … but once catalyzed, the process carries through on its own.
 

Have another strategy that works for you?  Please share your procrastination tips and tricks here! :)