If you’re tired of being incapable of starting a project until the last minute, this article is for you. Recently, I stumbled on two helpful blog posts by Tim Urban, the main writer for the blog Wait But Why. As I read “Why Procrastinators Procrastinate” and “How to Beat Procrastination,” I felt encouraged and understood. Finally, here was someone who recognized that you simply can’t “just stop” procrastinating. Here’s what I learned from Urban’s blogs.
What is procrastination?
It’s important to understand that procrastination is, at its core, an addiction to instant gratification. For instance, it’s more enjoyable to scroll through funny posts on Tumblr than it is to write an exegesis paper, which requires research and critical thinking. Everyday procrastination looks a lot like this, where you find yourself seeking any kind of distraction to avoid work.
The most painful part of being addicted to procrastination is that you get frustrated with yourself for not being able to stop. You know you’re capable of accomplishing a task logically, but you’re so used to waiting until the panic monster kicks in at 3 a.m. that you don’t know how to work any other way. Furthermore, repeating this behavior prevents you both from doing your best, and from being able to do the small things you want to do, like going to the beach with friends.
How to retrain yourself
If you’re tired of being a procrastinator, practice these steps to help you break the habit:
1) Plan tasks out in detail: Break big projects into smaller steps and then schedule those steps on specific dates for a set period of time. For example, instead of cramming the night before for a test, study for an hour every Tuesday at 3 p.m.
2) Remove distractions: Before beginning homework, put your phone in another room and isolate yourself from your friends. In essence, eliminate all temptation.
3) Be aware: Realize that when you choose to distract yourself on the internet instead of working, you’re consciously making the choice to pull an all-nighter or not go to dinner with your friends. Being cognizant of what you’re doing will help you keep the leisure end-goal in sight.
4) Keep trying: Re-teaching yourself how to do work is hard, and it will be difficult to say no to yourself. But, it feels great to know you can do anything you want when your homework is all done.
I’ve been taking Urban’s advice, and while I still struggle to avoid distraction while I’m working, it’s beginning to get easier. I promise you, with perseverance and a little grace for yourself, you can stop being a procrastinator.
