Procrastination and Time Management

Here is a quick recap of what we talked about last week:

Procrastination
Students may experience extra free time upon coming to college--in between classes, on weekends, etc., especially if they are not very involved in extra-curricular activities.  They can run into the routine of not doing much, however, and end up procrastinating tasks they actually must accomplish.  Procrastination, unfortunately, can lead to little sleep and bad study and learning habits.

There are many ways that students can procrastinate, as listed in "How You Procrastinate: The Method Behind the Madness":

• Ignoring the Task
• Underestimating the Task and Overestimating Yourself
• Lower Your Standards
• You are Willingly Distracted
• "Small Delays Don't Matter"
• You are Always Preparing
• Analysis Paralysis

To beat procrastination, check out the technology tips from the Sept. 21 post.  Also, schedule study time regularly; if you have nothing pressing to do, work ahead.  Practice not procrastinating in other areas of your life to develop the habit.

Time Management

As students progress through college, they will join clubs or activities, and their schoolwork will get more demanding.  This can lead to stress and time management issues.  In college, time management is incredibly important because students are in charge of their time--not teachers or parents.  Take a look at some of the changes students may face in "The Differences: High School vs. College".

To develop good time management skills, students could create To Do lists for the day, week and month, prioritizing from top to bottom; cross out tasks once they are completed and relish that sense of accomplishment.  Schedule relaxation time, and be deeply involved in a few organizations to cut out extra commitments.  Also check out these tips from the Mayo Clinic.

By learning to beat procrastination and to manage time wisely, students can develop essential survival skills for college and for life.