Scholarly Advice for Academic Mastery
A collection of insights and advice from some of the most successful university, graduate, and professional students and scholars.
Topic: Procrastination
Being a huge procrastinator in high school, it was an enormous challenge for me in college to stay on top of my work. It's easy to put off assignments or studying since you know weeks and months in advance when things will be due. However, one will quickly learn that falling behind makes it very difficult to succeed. Suddenly, you might find yourself with two major tests, two papers, and five hundred pages of a novel to read and analyze in a single week. The key is to know what work needs to be done and by when. Stay on top of your assignments and the length of time that will need to be spent on each one, and, whatever you do, don't wait until the night before to begin an important assignment... or three.
Alexandra Ernst
Biology, Philosophy
Vanderbilt University
The key to success in college is
self discipline. The initial reaction of most college students to an
assignment of any kind is procrastination. Of course it is tempting to enjoy
immediate free time, but chances are that free time will be spent doing
nothing really, and then when crunch time comes it always seems there's a
million other cool things to do. If a 5 page paper is assigned, the amount
of work necessary to complete the paper will not change; the option we all
have is when to do the paper. So you can wait and risk missing an awesome
opportunity of some kind down the road or you can start it right away and
build yourself a cushion of time. After adopting this philosophy, I almost
seemed to have more free time than before, and that is because the free time
I have is always doing stuff I really love. For example, this semester I had
my term papers almost done by midterms, so if there was a good band in town
or when the weather was good for camping, rock climbing, canoeing, or really
whatever I wanted to do, I had plenty of time to do it. If I would have
procrastinated, finals would have been terrible, especially knowing my
friends were all out doing cool stuff while I was stuck doing work I could
have done in the beginning of the semester. For you procrastinators out
there, think of how you spend the time you get from putting it off. Do you
really do anything that fun? In my circle of friends, I rarely miss a good
time, and that is because I create a very large time cushion as soon as I
can by diving right in to the work at the beginning of the semester. The
time cushion also reduces stress. In some ways its actually easier because
if you need help, the professor will have more free time in the beginning of
the semester compared to when the rest of the entire class needs help right
before the assignment is due. If you get the work done early, then you don't
need to worry about the due date either. This eliminates the need for a
planner full of overlapping due dates. The time cushion also eliminates
all-nighters, so in general, you are always well rested and capable of doing
better work. I have also found if you subscribe to this philosophy,
professors take notice. If for some reason you really are in a jam they will
be more likely to give you an extension if you always turn stuff in early
than if you turn in late or subpar work.
I would also argue a student is more capable of doing labor
intensive assignments in the beginning of the semester, which makes it seem
easier while producing work that will earn higher grades. By the end of the
semester, I am burnt out and am nowhere near as capable of producing good
work as the beginning of the semester. This philosophy yields less stress,
better grades, and more fun. Simply put: have more fun and get better
grades. The advantages of this work ethic compound over time. I adopted this
method this semester and as a result I was offered jobs and undergrad
assistantships from Botswana to Yellowstone, one of which I took and loved.
The hardest part was deciding which job to take. Imagine how useful this
will be after graduation and its time to start job hunting. This is not
because I am smarter than anyone, it is because I am disciplined. Good
grades are more a product of discipline than intelligence.
Brett Murphy
Southern Illinois University
Overcoming Procrastination Janice Bragunier Masters, Special Education Shippensburg University Study Habits Marcia Joyce Henning Masters, Natural Resource Management New Mexico Highlands University Procrastination Karen Leary Master of Science
in Nursing West Chester
University Work ahead. I
kept track of all of my assignments, and whenever I had a chance, worked on
the next one due - even if I still had several days. Instead of killing time
when I had no imminent assignments, I just went on to whatever assignment
came next in the list. Using this strategy rather than allotting study time
as necessary, I never had a disaster when an assignment took longer than
expected or when a surprise or emergency interrupted my work. I also made
sure to take time every day to exercise and a separate amount of time to
enjoy myself. Some days the "me time" was just watching a television episode
or taking 20 minutes to chat with my housemates, but I usually had the time
when I wanted to go to a sporting event or watch a movie. I may have spent
more of my time working, rather than watching TV or browsing the internet,
but when something unexpected, but really fun came up, some of my friends
had to miss out because they had not planned the time into their schedule.
Unlike many college students, I never had to pull an all-nighter, and I
usually felt relaxed knowing I was ahead of schedule for my assignments and
studying. So... don't procrastinate! Melissa Lynn Ising Master of Music Education Oberlin College You will need to avoid
procrastination. I am the queen when it comes to procrastination, and I know
the challenges it brings not to procrastinate. It is important to remind
yourself of due dates way in advance and tell yourself once it is completed
you will have time for yourself. You need to be clear on what your final
objectives are and what the end result will be. What are your major steps to
get there? What have you done so far? You must always remember that the
longest journey begins with the first step. Brooke Alston Jennings Master of Science in Social
Work Radford University I'm amazed at
how many students try to write their essays in one night. Even if you don't
care, or even if you have tremendous faith in your own ability-- it's much,
much easier to break it down. I don't mean you have to take weeks. Just
going from one step to two can make a huge difference. Scott E. Olmsted Georgetown University Let's face it, college students procrastinate. Even if I tell you to start
writing your papers or studying for finals ahead of time (yes, you should do
this), you probably will only start writing or studying a few days before
the due date. However, even if you do not start writing until a few days
before the due date, you should still do your research ahead of time and
come up with a thesis. Writing as you go, without any intended direction,
just does not work in college. Also, avoid summarizing; you have to analyze
in college to get an A. Also, if a professor offers to read your rough
drafts and make suggestions, TAKE HIM/HER UP ON THE OFFER! This is an almost
sure way to get an A, because usually if you follow the professor's
directions, you will have a near perfect paper. Regarding exams, be sure to
do all the readings and take notes well before the exam. Once you get behind
on reading and note-taking, it is practically impossible to catch up. Also,
always attend class, even if the professor does not take attendance; you
could miss something important (like a due date or requirements for a
paper/test). Finally, if you need help with your paper, talk to the
professor during office hours. Professors are generally happy to help, and
you can get to know them better (which makes them favorably disposed to
giving you the benefit of the doubt when trying to decide your grade). Brenna Anatone Georgetown University The most important advice
for studying would be to never procrastinate. It's something everyone tells
you and probably extremely redundant. But it just means that it's that
important! Procrastination takes away valuable time you could have spent
asking your professor or friends for clarifications. You can never figure
out whether you perfectly understand a topic or not, unless you start
studying. So always start beforehand! It'll help you not only academically
but also socially. College is a place where everything is irregular.
Starting early will help you prepare for this irregularity since you'll be
able to go out and enjoy with you friends even a day before your test. Or
you can participate in your organizations' event without the burden of
having to cramp everything the day before. However, just starting early
doesn't lead to success. It's not that simple, of course. You have to plan
out your studying schedule so that you can evenly distribute your time
between school, extracurricular activities, and of course your friends.
Planning out your study schedule will help you figure out when to say no to
your friends and when to go out and cherish your college life. Not only
that, it will prevent you from studying too much. Yes, there is such thing
is studying too much. Sometimes, studying for a test is not the only thing
you'll have to do. You have to be able to juggle your time wisely among
tests, homework, projects, and group work. Setting up a schedule for
yourself will help prevent you from wasting time. Finally, the last study
advice would be to know when to take breaks! Studying isn't the only thing
you do in College. College is a place where you learn how to socialize with
different groups of people in different settings, learn how to take
initiatives and take on leadership roles. Learning to cherish your time with
your friends, group members, faculties, etc., will help you manage your
stress and also gain valuable, once in a lifetime experiences. In Wan Ahn Business Administration, Finance Carnegie Mellon University
1. Don't wait until you're in the mood. There's no perfect time so stop
waiting for it.
2. Be realistic, not perfect. Write down basic information. Perfect it
later.
3. Schedule specific times for down time. Try not to let your down time end
up being all of the time.
4. Use strategies that helped you accomplish your goals for completed
assignments.
5. Healthy foods and 7 - 8 hours of sleep can help you perform better on the
task at hand.
6. If an assignment doesn't seem useful, remember your life goals. They can
provide motivation to get through it.
I do not procrastinate. I am a highly focused student who has learned time
management skills. I find the current culture’s admiration of
“multi-tasking” a poor model. I believe in doing one thing at a time, giving
it my full attention, and doing it well. I plan my schedule accordingly. I
believe in thorough research. I prefer to study alone, unless a professor
requires much rote memorization, then a study partner is helpful. I believe
in craftsmanship and approach every discipline I undertake as an art form. I
trust my own intuition when “under the gun”.
I had to write about this topic since I am a master procrastinator. I like
to tell myself that I work best under pressure but that is just not the
case. It is also hazardous to my sanity. Putting things off or avoiding
doing something is a fairly common phenomenon but some students do it
excessively. Procrastinating can and will interfere with scholastic and
personal success.
Some reasons people procrastinate:
Perfectionism (student's standards are too high)
Fear of failure (don't think you are capable of successfully completing an
assignment)
Confusion ( not sure how to start or finish)
Task Difficulty ( don't have the skills/ability to complete a task)
Low Motivation (no interest in task)
Lack of Concentration (too much distraction)
Task Unpleasantness (dislike task or work involved to complete task)
Lack of Priorities (cannot list tasks in order of importance)
How to avoid procrastination
Motivate yourself to get to work by saying "No better time than the
present!" Prioritize your tasks and make a promise to yourself to complete
the task. Give yourself a reward for task completion. Work at whatever time
of the day or night that you are most productive. Take advantage of those
moments when you are "in the mood". Break down assignments into mini-tasks
and check them off as you do them. Work with a study group. Don't be afraid
to ask your teachers or classmates for help with difficult tasks. Set a
schedule for yourself with regard to tasks and try to do them wherever you
are least distracted. Be realistic with your goals for task completion. Take
breaks as you need them. Do the unpleasant parts of the task first and then
follow it with an easy task. You need to stay positive and focused.
Typically, once you get some momentum, you'll find it easy to complete the
task. You will also feel a tremendous amount of satisfaction (and relief!)
to be done.
Procrastination quiz (from www.procrastination.com)
You are an excessive procrastinator if you agree with five or more of the
following statements:
I often put off starting a task I find difficult.
I often give up on a task as soon as I start to find it difficult.
I often wonder why I should be doing a task.
I often have difficulty getting started on a task.
I often try to do so many tasks at once that I cannot do any of them.
I often put off a task in which I have little or no interest.
I often try to come up with reasons to do something other than the task I
have to do.
I often ignore a task when I am not certain about how to start it or
complete it.
I often start a task but stop before completing it.
I often find myself thinking that if I ignore a task, it will go away.
I often cannot decide which of a number of tasks I should complete first.
I often find my mind wandering to things other than the task on which I am
trying to work.
Typing with one hand while
skimming through notes and books with the other is inefficient, stressful,
and difficult. Don't wait until the night before your essay's due before you
look at the assignment. Your writing will be anchored every time you have to
skip to another chapter or look up a reference you want to use or call a
friend to ask what page something is on. Your sentences will be shoddy and
disconnected and you could be up all night and barely meet the page
requirements.
You can still procrastinate if
you want to! But do some basic organization the night before you write. Look
at the topic and decide what you're going to write on. I always spend an
hour or two looking up the quotes I'd like to use. Bookmark the relevant
pages, or write the pages down. Scribble some web addresses and what
information you got from them. Jot down a few sentences, just a few
sentences, of points you want to make or possible paragraph topics. You
don't need Venn Diagrams or Graphic Organizers or Rough Drafts. But take the
information you want to use, and without even starting your essay, just make
it accessible to yourself. Writing the actual essay will be infinitely
easier, because everything you need will be right in front of you. The
writing will inevitably be better ordered, because you'll have something of
an outline of what you want to discuss from the very beginning. An hour on
Wednesday will save you from an all-nighter on Thursday.
For the ambitious, give it even
more time. I always take at least a week to write an essay, even if I don't
start until just a few days before. Gather what you're going to say and link
the related pieces together. The better idea you have of what you're going
to say before you sit down at your keyboard, the easier the essay will be to
write.
This is also my advice for
long-term research projects: essays of ten or more pages for which you have
months to write. Don't start writing yet; do the research and get all of
your information. In this situation, before I even think about writing, I do
a secondary run-through of my research and re-catalogue
everything into groups which I eventually manipulate into paragraphs. It
sounds tedious and useless, but if you have pages and pages of information,
just an hour of organization can make a brilliant and far-reaching essay out
of a chaotic mess. Some people are in such a rush to get the paper started
and get it done that they add on extra hours.