Having a procrastination problem can be devastating to your studies. It not only makes you lose time, but it can also impact your mental health. So, how can you deal with procrastination?
Time management skills
Procrastination affects students of all ages. Elementary school students and high school students are likely to procrastinate, but it can also affect university students. This can lead to a vicious cycle that creates a poor academic experience. It can also negatively affect students’ job performance after graduation. It is also associated with lower salaries and shorter employment periods.
Time management is a key factor in overcoming procrastination. Students who let assignments sit until the last minute are likely to miss important deadlines. If you are overloaded with homework and tasks, it’s always possible to use an academic essay writing service and professional writers will. These students are also less likely to have an understanding of new material.
To prevent procrastination, students should set clear goals. Break large tasks into smaller steps, and set intermediate deadlines. Then, focus on positive reasons for doing a task. Make sure you are realistic about changing habits and choose wise surroundings to study in.
Psychological flexibility
Several recent studies have highlighted the importance of psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility is the ability to recognize situational demands and engage in adaptive behaviours. It is also associated with time and effort management skills. Increasing psychological flexibility may improve students’ well-being, and decrease procrastination.
The study measured the impact of various sociodemographic factors on psychological inflexibility. The results showed that higher psychological inflexibility was associated with higher levels of perceived stress, loneliness, and depression. It was also associated with lower school satisfaction.
Psychological flexibility may be the most important component of the procrastination puzzle. Inflexible students may have a difficult time managing their time and resources. In addition, they may experience a higher risk of academic failure.
Effects on mental health
Several studies have shown that procrastination has negative effects on the mental health of students. This is true in various areas, including academic performance, stress, and health.
Students who procrastinate tend to have poor grades, low self-esteem and are stressed out. This makes it difficult for them to meet their academic goals and can lead to other problems. They also have problems in the workplace, with family members, and with their romantic partners. This can affect their academic and financial status.
Students who procrastinate are also more likely to delay seeking help for a mental health concern. This may be because they incorrectly assume that procrastination is the only problem, or because they think that procrastination is a symptom of another problem.
Tricks to stop procrastinating
Using a few tricks to stop procrastinating can help you get things done, and make you feel better in the process. But how do you get started?
- Making your bed every morning. Having a tidy room is a great start to the day and is often a precursor to a better night’s sleep. Studies have shown that a tidy room reduces stress and promotes a more positive attitude. A study in the US found that millennials are the least likely to make their beds. However, the millennials that did make their bed were more likely to be more productive than their counterparts and were more likely to show signs of happiness. In addition, they were also less likely to procrastinate. A study on the benefits of making your bed showed that the habit can improve the quality of your sleep, reduce stress, and help you sleep better. It’s also important to remember that not everyone has the same amount of time to dedicate to their morning routine. However, if you have a flexible schedule, you can tailor your routine to suit your needs.
- Visualising your future self. Taking a moment to visualise your future self can be a helpful technique for beating procrastination. It allows you to imagine how you will feel and what you will need in the future, giving you a concrete goal to work towards. In a 2011 study, psychologist Eve-Marie Blouin-Hudon examined whether people who visualised their future selves were less likely to procrastinate. The study tested the effects of visualisation by recording students’ responses to scenarios and comparing them to an exercise in mindfulness-based meditation. The researchers found that the students who visualized their future selves were less procrastinated. They also found that the part of the brain that lights up when you think about yourself became active. Blouin-Hudon theorised that the results of the study could be replicated without the use of technology. She suggested that students could practice a future-self meditation daily.
- Organising your to-do lists. Organising your to-do lists is a great way to stop procrastinating. If you tend to procrastinate, a to-do list will help you to prioritise your workload, so that you can get the most important tasks done first.
Takeaway
Procrastination is a problem that many people deal with regularly. You may feel like you have a lot of work to do, but if you don’t prioritise it properly, you may feel overwhelmed. By organising your to-do lists, you can eliminate that feeling of being overwhelmed, and start working on your tasks.
Writing down your tasks helps you to remember them. It also frees up mental space, which allows your mind to focus on completing them. Keeping your to-do list up-to-date will also help you to prioritise your tasks.
Zuella Montemayor did her degree in psychology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
