I recently received a reader request for a post on how to beat procrastination. As soon as I read it, I thought “you and me both, sister!”. Even my Kindergarteners are prone to procrastination every time they hear the phrase “clean up time”!
Why We Procrastinate and How to Stop
So, how can we beat it? First of all, it is important for us to realize that our procrastination usually comes straight out of fear. Fear of failing, or of being below standard, in some cases, even fear of finishing.
What have I been procrastinating about lately? Um, that would be job searching. It is truly the most discouraging, am I right?
I mean, I like positive results right away! Don’t you? And job searching means a LOT of hoping and a lot trying and a lot of waiting. BORRR-IIING.
So, instead of job searching every day, I settle for pinning a bunch of articles on how to job search every day (I like to think that at least I’m helping others who may not have been able to find these articles through their own Google searching). Basically the same thing, right? I love how Pinterest makes me feel productive while actually doing nothing.
8 Anti-Procrastination Strategies
But with teacher hiring season just around the corner for me (and Finals Week just around the corner for you) we can’t afford to sit around pinning articles on how to interview and how to study.
It’s time to actually get out there and do it!
Once you get past that initial fear of how big and impossible-looking it seems, you’ll gain a clearer perspective! Who knows? Maybe you’ll even get into the flow of working and you’ll enjoy it!
Aside from leaving a trail of productivity in yourplanner, this helps you for a couple of other reasons, too! It shows you how you used your time and that you actually DID get something accomplished! It also creates an immediate jumping off point for the next time you sit down to study!
(which will be tomorrow, riiiiight?)
4 Rules for Effective Studying