Assignment #20 - Irene Kim - How to Get Over Procrastination

One of my biggest New Year's Resolutions is to stop procrastinating. If I don't get to accomplish anything else this year, I would at least like to master this habit. I've been battling procrastination for forever, and while I still do half of my key terms at the last minute, my work habits have improved significantly. So while I'm not entirely qualified to give advice on this topic, I would like to share the most useful things I've learned and just hope someone can take something useful from this! (Reading these back, it sounds more like a tips list than a how-to manual, but there you go...)

1. Use a planner. I have had an 'obsession' with planners for as long as I can remember. My monthly pages are always full of post-it's and stickers, my to-do lists fill up the pages, my homework is always color-coded. This is not necessary. However, if you're the type of person who can't start on a task before you have a to-do list, having a planner helps a lot.

2. Write down tasks as you get them. This goes along partly with having a planner, but always make sure to write things down when you think of them. This applies especially with homework, at least for me. Because I tend to be forgetful, I always try to write down homework assignments for a class before I leave that class. When homework accumulates and you end up having to remember a million things after school, it creates unnecessary stress. Also, write down anything you think you won't remember (even little things such as getting a form signed or emailing a teacher).

3. Divide your time / Use the Pomodoro method. You've probably heard this one a lot, but it's true. Starting early on projects that you know will take a long time to complete saves you a ton of time in the long run. The Pomodoro method is essentially 25 minutes of undistracted work, 5 minutes of break time, 25 minutes of work, etc. Dividing your time into chunks is incredibly useful, and the Pomodoro method works well for a lot of people, especially if you tend to get distracted easily! If you're interested, there are several apps, websites, YouTube videos, etc. that offer online Pomodoro timers for free!

4. Work where you're comfortable. Time and time again, I've found that no matter what the assignment is, I don't work as well when I'm not in a comfortable environment. If it's the setting, then try out your local library or coffee shop (sometimes you just need a change of setting!) If there's a mental issue or any underlying problems that are hindering your concentration or stopping you from doing your best work, resolve those first! It's important to make sure you are comfortable in your environment and confident in your abilities before academics or anything else. 

5. Just do it. At the end of the day, the only thing that can really make you stop procrastinating is to just do it. I know it sounds awful, and oftentimes a big project is the last thing I want to work on, but knowing that I'll have to finish it sometime and that it's better to finish it sooner than later is what gets me through. And know that starting an assignment (or anything you have to do) is a lot harder than continuing it. Once you start it, and finish it, and repeat that process, it becomes a habit--once it's normalized for you, it'll be a lot easier the next time! Also, don't be too hard on yourself. This seems like a lot, and high school is hard, but you'll get through it. As long as whatever you're doing works for you, that's good enough.