Fighting Procrastination

Dear Cydney,

This semester is flying! I've got a bunch of projects and papers coming due, and I'm just getting started now. I'm afraid I'm not going to make some of the deadlines, and I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to get a bad grade…

—Behind the Eight Ball

Dear BEB,

Your concern is well justified—meeting deadlines is an essential professional habit. And in addition to teaching content, professors are working to instill habits that will allow you to be successful beyond UB. While you're not alone in the Land of Procrastination, you do need to find the road out. Here are four steps on the Road to Completion.

Root out Procrastination

In order to correct any habit, you need to attack the root cause. Identify which of these four issues, as defined by Bruka & Yuen's "Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do About It," may be causing you to procrastinate.

(A) Are you a perfectionist? In other words, do you tie your performance to your self worth? One less?than?outstanding performance does not a less?than?outstanding person make. You may need to begin setting more reasonable goals for yourself.

(B) Do you harbor a fear of limitations? You are not Wonder Woman/Super Man, and asking for help is not the enemy.

(C) Are you simply unsure of how to proceed? Not understanding the assignment is the primary reason that students receive lowered grades. Clarify your assignment with classmates or your professor by paraphrasing what you believe to be the assignment expectations, and then listen carefully for any corrections.

(D.) Finally, consider whether you are simply overwhelmed by the task. If you are facing an assignment completely different than anything you've done before or which you don't think you'll do well, you may be overwhelmed. To manage this fear, continue reading this article.

Create a Time Management Plan

Break your assignment into smaller parts, including planning, research, creation and revision. Schedule blocks of time over the weeks remaining until the due date and stick to your plan. As part of your plan, create daily to-do lists, which will ensure that you don't forget anything and will provide a sense of accomplishment as you cross each completed task from your list. Don't forget to plan time to consult classmates and/or your professor, get assistance from the Academic Resource Center, conduct database searches with the help of a reference librarian, etc.

Create a Reward System

This step is not to be skipped, as individual reward systems are integral to maintaining motivation.

Schedule downtime in your time management plan after each work session. Do something for yourself like going for a run, watching a movie or enjoying dinner with friends/family.

Additionally, during work sessions, try not to focus on a task for more than a half an hour, as attention research indicates that the brain cannot remain entirely focused for more than 20 minutes. Take very short breaks (about two minutes)—make some coffee, step outside, whatever. Then you'll be able to return with energy and motivation to continue your work.

Communicate with Your Professor

Your instructor is here—and wants—to support you. Discussing your challenge will not indicate weakness, but it will indicate that you are open to learning and committed to improvement. Your professor should be able to provide guidance that will lead to greater confidence and a better product.

Additionally, your time management plan will demonstrate how proactive you are in getting back on track and may be the starting point to discuss extensions—although I'm not making any promises here!

Finally, BEB, I don't want to sound like one of those motivational posters, but…believe in yourself. Research indicates that self-efficacy (the belief that one can accomplish a task even in the face of obstacles) affects future performance to a greater extent than actual ability. Mind over matter!

Originally published in The UB Post, Oct. 31, 2007