When you have no one keeping you accountable how do you act? If there was no one checking to see if you had completed your work, if you had no deadlines or due dates and there was no one bothering to see what you were up to, what would you do? If you're being honest, the answer is probably "not much!"
As a student, you know there are deadlines coming up (and hopefully you are aware of them), but unless they are coming up really soon (like when something is due tomorrow) there is a good chance you're in a state of total relaxation. But why is that?
If you're the only one currently holding yourself accountable then unfortunately there's a good chance you'll be happy to let yourself off the hook! You don't want to be mean to yourself after all. Life is short. You want to spend your time having fun. Watch television, jump on the internet, go shopping for new clothes, play computer games and generally do whatever you like! Well, that's what you're thinking anyway (we know this because that's what we're thinking too!)
But you don't also want to be thinking "I should be doing this" or "I should be doing that" because it takes the fun out of your super fun time doesn't it? When you're trying to have a good time but deep down you know you really should be getting your assignment or study done, it's a real downer. So instead of doing that, we suggest you get your work done first and then you can truly enjoy your super fun free time. Here are our top five procrastination crushing tips to really help make this work for you:
Tip number one. Just in case you hadn't noticed, you're not perfect! Sorry if that is upsetting to you, but you're not. Nothing you do is perfect and nothing you ever do will be perfect. Ouch! You may be amazing, outstanding and incredible but perfection should not be your ambition because it's a standard that can't be managed. It's fine to make mistakes, it is fine to fail and it's fine to not be perfect. That's just life so get over it and get the work done!
Tip number two. Always break down any task into smaller tasks. This should be obvious but it's amazing how many people are unable to break big tasks down into smaller tasks. If you look at a big task then it will look big. Because it is big! But you don't have to build a house with one swing of a hammer. You have to go through a series of smaller tasks. That's life. Break your tasks down into tiny little tasks and then complete them one by one. Once you make a start you'll wonder why you were ever worried about the task at all!
Tip number three. An accountability buddy will do wonders for you. Find someone who will agree to kick your butt, hound you until you do what you said you would do, and never give up on you - then agree to hold each other accountable for whatever goals you are both trying to achieve. Please note: do not select someone who is also a procrastinator! That just spells trouble. You are hundreds of time more likely to take action when someone else is holding you accountable - so if you can find someone definitely do it!
Tip number four. Hang out with people who actually work hard and want to achieve something with their life! It seems obvious but if you hang out with people who are lazy bums you'll probably become a lazy bum yourself. If you spend time with people who have achieved something you want to achieve or who also share your desire to do something special with their life you are infinitely more likely to actually make something of yourself. So pick your friends wisely my friend.
Tip number five. Become a distraction destroyer. If you notice a distraction creeping up and getting ready to take you away from what you should be doing then smack the heck out of it! Distractions are a major reason why things don't get done. So don't take them lightly. Hit them hard. Turn off the television, switch off the X Box, put your cell phone on mute, jump off Facebook, YouTube, Pin It and every other time consuming social website and just do some work. You'll find that after 10 or 15 minutes of doing something it will be easy to do another 10 or 15 minutes, and then another, and then another.
Whatever you do, just remember that you are ultimately responsible for all of your outcomes and only you can change your life. Good luck!
As a student, you know there are deadlines coming up (and hopefully you are aware of them), but unless they are coming up really soon (like when something is due tomorrow) there is a good chance you're in a state of total relaxation. But why is that?
If you're the only one currently holding yourself accountable then unfortunately there's a good chance you'll be happy to let yourself off the hook! You don't want to be mean to yourself after all. Life is short. You want to spend your time having fun. Watch television, jump on the internet, go shopping for new clothes, play computer games and generally do whatever you like! Well, that's what you're thinking anyway (we know this because that's what we're thinking too!)
But you don't also want to be thinking "I should be doing this" or "I should be doing that" because it takes the fun out of your super fun time doesn't it? When you're trying to have a good time but deep down you know you really should be getting your assignment or study done, it's a real downer. So instead of doing that, we suggest you get your work done first and then you can truly enjoy your super fun free time. Here are our top five procrastination crushing tips to really help make this work for you:
Tip number one. Just in case you hadn't noticed, you're not perfect! Sorry if that is upsetting to you, but you're not. Nothing you do is perfect and nothing you ever do will be perfect. Ouch! You may be amazing, outstanding and incredible but perfection should not be your ambition because it's a standard that can't be managed. It's fine to make mistakes, it is fine to fail and it's fine to not be perfect. That's just life so get over it and get the work done!
Tip number two. Always break down any task into smaller tasks. This should be obvious but it's amazing how many people are unable to break big tasks down into smaller tasks. If you look at a big task then it will look big. Because it is big! But you don't have to build a house with one swing of a hammer. You have to go through a series of smaller tasks. That's life. Break your tasks down into tiny little tasks and then complete them one by one. Once you make a start you'll wonder why you were ever worried about the task at all!
Tip number three. An accountability buddy will do wonders for you. Find someone who will agree to kick your butt, hound you until you do what you said you would do, and never give up on you - then agree to hold each other accountable for whatever goals you are both trying to achieve. Please note: do not select someone who is also a procrastinator! That just spells trouble. You are hundreds of time more likely to take action when someone else is holding you accountable - so if you can find someone definitely do it!
Tip number four. Hang out with people who actually work hard and want to achieve something with their life! It seems obvious but if you hang out with people who are lazy bums you'll probably become a lazy bum yourself. If you spend time with people who have achieved something you want to achieve or who also share your desire to do something special with their life you are infinitely more likely to actually make something of yourself. So pick your friends wisely my friend.
Tip number five. Become a distraction destroyer. If you notice a distraction creeping up and getting ready to take you away from what you should be doing then smack the heck out of it! Distractions are a major reason why things don't get done. So don't take them lightly. Hit them hard. Turn off the television, switch off the X Box, put your cell phone on mute, jump off Facebook, YouTube, Pin It and every other time consuming social website and just do some work. You'll find that after 10 or 15 minutes of doing something it will be easy to do another 10 or 15 minutes, and then another, and then another.
Whatever you do, just remember that you are ultimately responsible for all of your outcomes and only you can change your life. Good luck!
About the Author:
HelpMeToStudy.org is the number one resource for learning new study skills, changing your study habits and discovering the best studying tips available. We will help you change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Stop Procrastinating | Studying Tips
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