Procrastination

What is it and why do we do this????

Dealing with Procrastination

One of the biggest hurdles students face is acquiring the discipline required to get everything done, that needs to get done, each and every day.. Day in and day out every day.. over and over.. =)

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Indicators that will help you know when youre procrastinating:

Filling your day with low priority tasks from your To Do List Sitting down to start a high-priority task, and almost immediately going on-line, texting someone, turning the TV on, etc.
Leaving an item on your To Do list for a long time, even though you KNOW it's important!

More Procrastination Indicators..

Saying "Yes" (regularly!) to unimportant tasks that others ask you to do, and filling your time with these instead of getting on with the important tasks already on your list
Waiting for the right mood or the right time to tackle the important task at hand

Adjusting to school life..

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Part of the adjustment process is learning how to stay focused and making the best use of your time How can you avoid some of the pitfalls of falling behind in your studies?

*Keys to Success in School:

Having clearly defined goals Setting priorities Having the motivation and discipline to follow through Reinforcing your desire to achieve

*Keys to Success - defined

Goals - desired achievements and the purpose toward which your work is directed Priorities - what is of greatest importance to you

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*More Keys to Success

Motivation - the commitment to accomplish something and keep going even when things get difficult Discipline - the systematic intention and conscious choice to focus on accomplishing your goals

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Each of these leads to the next:

Goals Priorities Motivation Discipline: a constant desire to achieve

Even if you are clear about your goals and priorities, your motivation and discipline can be adversely affected by procrastination!!!

What is Procrastination?

Procrastination - the needless postponement of completing tasks, especially out of habit

procrastination is about more than just time management - it is often about a false sense of security and/or lowered expectations.

So - Why do People Procrastinate????

1)

5 Simple Reasons for Procrastination Overload and/or inability to prioritize:

*Your assignments may seem too difficult, and you might begin to look for ways to avoid them *Your to-do list keeps growing and you start to feel overwhelmed *You choose easiest assignments 1st and put off the tough ones until the last minute

2) Poor Time Management

The task may seem too time-consuming so you put it off until later

You may be overconfident & underestimate the actual time needed to complete all your obligations You may think about your time without taking into account ongoing new assignments, extra time needed to seek help, tech issues, etc.

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3) Fear of Failure -orFear of Success:

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*Your assignments may require knowledge or skills you dont think you have, so you fear facing them. *People who are afraid to fail are afraid to even try to attempt the task. *We might fear new expectations. We might feel happy with where we are, even though we know we are capable of doing better.

4) Perfectionism
Having unreachable standards will discourage you from pursuing a task. Some people dont want to begin a task if they cant do it perfectly. Remember no one is perfect!

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4) Boredom:
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*You may also choose to procrastinate

because the work does not hold your interest *This attitude affects your ability to concentrate on the task

Dangers of Procrastination
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Lowered self-confidence - stress from not keeping up with assignments or completing daily tasks damages your sense of achievement and self-esteem Sense of powerlessness - feel like you have no control over your ability to get things done affects your motivation and ability to accomplish your goals

Dangers of Procrastination

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Using procrastination as a coping mechanism - is an inadequate way to cope with the pressure of completing assignments on time adds guilt! Feels like you are coping by delaying action, but it adds stress and makes it more difficult to feel good about managing your work load

Dangers of Procrastination

Interferes with opportunities When time and energy is spent avoiding work, you dont get the training and skills you need to succeed

**new opportunities QuickTime and a may be passing decompressor are needed to see this picture. you by! **

How to STOP Procrastinating

Start Today - dont procrastinate dealing with your procrastination! Take Small Steps - break up the work into smaller and more manageable parts. Be organized and learn to plan ahead!

Have a Positive Attitude - one of the biggest blocks to overcoming procrastination is a negative attitude. Be positive about your assignments!
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Most importantly

Prioritize!!! - you may have 10 tasks to complete, but you need to put them in order of importance. Avoid choosing the easiest task first because that will most likely lead to procrastination Be efficient with your time and allow QuickTime and a decompressor for breaks, which are are neede d to see this picture. important in reducing stress.