Welcome back, friends!
If you are still with me after the last blog post, I congratulate you. Now that we have both admitted we have a problem, it is time to identify some key strategies that we can utilize in our daily lives, especially in our roles as college students. As you know from my first blog post, I have tried and failed at certain strategies in the past (refer to The Checklist). Other strategies that have not worked for me in the past include waking up early, setting aside the same time every day to do work, and writing out all of the work I plan to accomplish in one day (a little too similar to The Checklist). These strategies just don't fit into my personality, or emotions, thoughts, and traits that I exhibit consistently that affect my behavior (Babin, 2016, p. 110). So, the following strategies are brand new for me, taken from a great blog from Cengage Learning, written by Taylor Massey in 2013.
#1.) Make Your Plans A Public Record
This is a fabulous strategy for college procrastinators. If you operate on your own schedule, it is very easy to postpone an assignment because there is nobody holding you accountable. So, if you make plans to work on an assignment with friends or classmates, all of a sudden there is an added layer of responsibility to getting the work done on time. With other people depending on you, they will peer pressure you, or pressure you to behave in accordance with group expectations (Babin, 2016, p. 159), if you try to postpone the work or get sidetracked (as they should)! If you publicize your plans to your best friends, or any primary reference group (Babin, 2016, p. 158), they will NOT hesitate to crack down on you and hold you to your word- because they love you! With so many people available with whom to share you plans, and with whom share the same tasks and assignments as you, this is a great strategy for college students.
#2.) Break Down Your Tasks Into Specifics
Once I set out to complete a task, it is very easy for me to get sidetracked. So, breaking down tasks into smaller pieces helps to make the goal easier and less daunting to complete. For example, if you sit down to write an research paper, identify the first task as "picking the topic". With all energy focused on picking a topic, and none on researching, making an outline, or diving right into the intro paragraph, it is much easier to get the ball rolling on the assignment.
#3.) Let Momentum Work For You
Now- don't stop! Typically, once I complete one piece of an assignment, I will take a Facebook break, a snack break, a bathroom break, etc. But, when you really think about it, I 1.) have not done nearly enough work to deserve any sort of break, and 2.) I am merely procrastinating further. So, in order to push through and continue on to the next piece of the assignment, think about your work being mediated by momentum. Momentum identifies a force increases speed as an object travels down a certain path. Applying this to our work means that in theory, once we decide on a topic, the work will go faster if we suck it up and continue headfirst into the research.
These strategies have the ability to work wonders for us procrastinators. But, if you all are as serious about changing your ways as I am, you cannot employ these strategies for one or two assignments and then call it a day. In order to have strong attitude-behavior consistency, or a strong relationship between your attitude (in this case, intention to decrease procrastination) and actual behavior (Babin, 2016, p. 136), these strategies must become incorporated into our work ethic. Once they are, our lives will be changed for the better down the road. Wait for my next blog to figure out why!
References
Babin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). In CB 7 (7th ed., p.p. 110-159). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Links
https://blog.cengage.com/top_blog/avoiding-procrastination-top-time-management-tips-for-college-students/
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ceq6azfWsAIcZ99.jpg
http://giphy.com/gifs/uDZexRVCffGww
http://images.tutorvista.com/cms/images/95/conservation-of-momentum-experiment1.jpg
Hi Kitty,
ReplyDeleteThis blog post resonates with more than I would like to admit. I have always been a procrastinator, and the bad habit has only gotten worse in college. Every time I am sitting in the library at 4 am the night before an exam I think to myself, “I am never letting myself do this again,” but of course, I fail to follow through. I have tried everything- and I mean everything- to break this habit. However, as a 22-year-old senior in college, I am beginning to think it might just be part of my personality that I need to accept (Babin, 2016, p. 110).
As you mentioned, getting distracted also adds to the problem of procrastination. Whenever I wake up early to go to the library, I somehow convince myself that first I must cook myself an intricate breakfast, do my laundry, and reorganize my room, and leave for the library 2 hours later…anything to put off starting my work! I also get very distracted by social media, so at the beginning of this year I decided to delete 2 of my most distracting social media accounts, Facebook and Snapchat (Babin, 2016, p. 110). This strategy is very extreme, especially in this day and age where we live for social media. However, it is also very successful in combating procrastination and limiting distraction. If you are willing to make the sacrifice, I guarantee it will help you with your procrastination problem too!
Babin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). CB 7 (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
I did not read your first blog post, but reading your second one made me go back and read it because I connected so much to what you were saying! I too procrastinate heavily, and the problem has only seemed to get worse as college has progressed. I really liked your three suggestions for helping both you and I actually step up and get our work done. Having friends/others hold you accountable has definitely worked in the past in my experience – you never want to be the guy/girl in the group project that everyone hates because they aren’t pulling their weight. By making myself do the work as part of a group, especially an ingroup of close friends, I will feel guilty if I don’t do the work, and thus will be forced to do it (Babin, 2016, p.157). Following that with specific things or a list that I need to get done will not only hold us accountable but will help me know what it is exactly that I am being held accountable for! And lastly, I think your suggestion about keeping momentum is the biggest thing I struggle with. Once I finish one assignment, I feel okay about myself and just push everything else off until absolutely necessary. If I just keep my head in the game and push myself to keep working, I won’t have nearly as much last work minute to complete. I will definitely implement your tips and hopefully we can both knock our procrastination habit!
ReplyDeleteBabin, B. J., Harris, E. G. (2016) CB, 7th edition
Hi Kitty,
ReplyDeleteIt’s amazing how relatable this blog is to me! For the past hour or so I’ve been sitting in the library playing on my phone, putting off having to write the blog peer responses. I’ve found that with the passing of each semester, my procrastination escalates, which causes me to get to bed later and later. I’ve found that when I study with other people I tend to be more productive and I am usually able to deflect any procrastination attempts because the Group Influence of my friends will affect my behavior and help me to be more productive (Babin, 2016 p. 157).
Babin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). CB 7 (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Hi Kitty,
ReplyDeleteWow, your blog definitely resonated with me as I too am a huge procrastinator. For example, I told myself today that I was going to get all my work done in the morning (such as writing these comments) yet I am currently doing it at 11:41PM. I think this is a definite part of my personality as this is nothing new for me (Babins, 2016, p. 110). One thing I have attempted to do in order to avoid being distracted by social media is using a computer app called Self Control that blocks certain websites of your choosing for an allotted amount of time. Most of the time, I just use my phone instead but it can sometimes be a little bit of help.
Babin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). CB 7 (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
I really liked reading your blog because I can definitely relate to putting everything off until the last second. I've found that social power plays a huge role in these decisions for me (Babin, 2015, p. 150). In high school, I always did my work on my own and as a result, got most assignments done way before they were due. Now, I often do homework and study with friends in the library. Firstly, this creates a bit of a distraction that I wouldn't normally have if I were doing work on my own. I usually don't mind the distraction because I value being in good company over getting my work done in the most efficient way possible all the time (Babin, 2015, p. 28). Secondly, my friends in college tend to procrastinate much more than I ever did before. I've found that my group of friends have strong referent power, leading me to often imitate their behaviors and attitudes (Babin, 2015, p. 150). Overall, I think it's natural to procrastinate, and of course it's important to find a happy medium. It's important to make sure procrastination never gets in the way of your mental well-being. Maybe surrounding yourself with others who might have the referent power to help you get your work done on time could be another way to combat the issue!
ReplyDeleteBabin, B., & Harris, E. (2015). In CB 7 (6th ed., pp. 26-150). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Hi Kitty,
ReplyDeleteYour blog really hit home with me. I am such a procrastinator. Like you, it's not just school work, it's everything! I fully take advantage of Michigan time. If I have a class at 10am, I am waking up at 9:45am. Recently, I have experienced self-improvement motivation to not be such a procrastinator and seek out ways to help change my current behavior because I am so sick of leaving things until the last minute (Babbin, 2016, pg. 91). That is why I am so drawn to your blog and have found your tips to be extremely helpful! I am especially interested in your "momentum tip." I always find myself seeking out reasons to take a break from doing work but it just adds to the procrastination and the time it takes me to get assignments done. If i just buckled down and finish my work, I would have more time to do other things that I find more joy in. I think your first tip would keep the momentum going. Most of the girls I live with are very studious. When my friends are making plans to study, I tend to join because then I am held accountable. Once I join my friends, I feel peer pressure to do my work because everyone is doing it and I know if I don't, my friends will have no problem putting me in line (Babin, 2016, pg. 159). I look forward to reading more of your tips to help with my procrastination problem!!
Babin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). In CB 7 (7th ed., pp. 91 & 159). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
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ReplyDeleteHey Kitty! Great post you have here - extremely relatable. I have always dealt with being a professional procrastinator, even back in high school I would get no sleep because I'd leave whatever work I had until as late as possible. This was something I thought I would outgrow in college, but it never really happened. The drive to procrastinate is, and I assume always will be, there. That's why this blog is serving a great purpose, and all of these ideas are great! I think the point about making your plans a public record is especially helpful. By making plans to do work with others, or simply telling them that you're planning on working on something alone, you really can utilize Social Power against yourself (Babin, 2016, p. 160). Social Power, of which there are many types, refers to the ability of an individual or a group to alter the actions of others. By making yourself that "other", and using close friends that you know will hold you accountable, you can force yourself to do your work, as the consequences become external and more meaningful. I have been able to use this tactic several times, and it often does the trick. The only issue from there is making sure you can still be productive while working with or near your good friends!
ReplyDeleteBabin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). In CB 7 (7th ed., pp. 160). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.