College Procrastination: Schedule Your Time And Work Your Schedule To Beat Procrastination

No matter how many time management books you read, one of the most challenging parts is setting up your schedule. Prior to college, students are usually set in a schedule that revolves around living life with your parents. When you enter college you are no longer bound to this structure. With all the events and new acquaintances you meet it is easy to become distracted and to loose focus on your studies. College procrastination can set in if you don’t establish a schedule and focus on achieving outcomes.  The following tips will help you get started right and to beat procrastination.

Tip #1:  Create a Schedule

To create a schedule you must start out by assessing your available time and prioritizing tasks. Anything that is due within a short time frame or needs immediate attention must take priority. Make sure you are realistic with your time estimates. Allow time for breaks or to attend to important events or matters outside of your study commitments such as family events and sports meets. Setup the schedule and work it. This is an action oriented approach to beat college procrastination.

Tip # 2:  Allow Enough Time To Transition Between Tasks

This can mean driving to a different location and dealing with traffic delays. For other tasks you may need to factor in research time. If you are writing a term paper or assembling research, visiting the library and getting your materials together takes time. Make sure you allow for this.

Tip #3:  Don’t Over Commit and Avoid Distractions

There is only so many hours in the day. You will inevitably encounter unexpected interruptions. Account for this and ensure that your environment is setup to minimize distractions. For college students, living in a communal environment can often present diversions. Create a sound study practice by selecting your study location wisely; away from students who are engaged in entertainment.

Tip #4:  Schedule Time off for Important Events and Commitments

It is important to schedule time for yourself. You need time to recharge and to attend to important college events and family gatherings. Know ahead of time when they are coming up so that you can work them into your schedule. This way you won’t get caught short for time around assignment due dates.

Tip #5:  Engage In Regular Exercise

Stay healthy by undertaking regular exercise. You will look better, feel better and sleep better. Exercise also helps to increase mental alertness. When you function better you are less likely to fall into college procrastination traps or become unproductive.

Tip #6:  Avoid The Email Trap

With the volume of emails that most people get it is easy to get caught up reading and replying to correspondence. Setup different folders on your email and make time for attending to them as part of your schedule. That way you won’t lose valuable time when you need to focus on accomplishing more important tasks.

Taking charge of your time management schedule is the first step to becoming more productive and avoiding student procrastination. As you learn to work your schedule you will become more effective. Get started today and beat college procrastination. You live a more productive college live, free from stress and with time left over to enjoy your life.