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Procrastination and Me

In a few weeks I will be receiving my degree in journalism. You would think that after four years of college I would have figured out how to use my time better, but instead I have been officially crowned the queen of procrastination. Every semester I make a New Year's resolution to not procrastinate and every semester I fail to follow through.

Don't you just hate it when a professor gives you an assignment and then says you have the whole year to work on it and it will be due on the last day of class? I do anyway. Usually a whole year turns into the last few weeks of school when I've got mounds of other things to do as well. I think computers are in on some scheme as well; they know when you've procrastinated. They'll find a way to freeze and lose your unsaved work or the website you need for research will be temporarily down. Ouch.

Procrastination isn't something that just happens in our scholarly lives. It affects us spiritually as well. We get busy with whatever may be going on and we delay spending time with the Lord or even obeying what He's asked us to do.

What Are Some Reasons We Procrastinate?

Are you a procrastinator? I sure am; take a look:

• When given a task that appears too tremendous for me to handle, I often put if off because I don't know how I'm going to go about doing it or even where to start.
• I fear failure in the end result if I don't do it perfectly. I put off doing the project trying to find the perfect way to do it.
• When given a task that is boring or not interesting I tend to put it off and do the fun tasks first.
• I can never make up my mind about what topic I should write about. I spend all this time trying to decide so when I've finally decided, I'm short on time.
• When given a project that I don't understand I feel a lack of confidence because I don't think I'll be able to do it.
• I can't start on projects because my favorite TV show is always on or I have to know what Joe wrote on my facebook wall.

So What Can We Do to Avoid Procrastination?

• Break the task up into sections. If you don't procrastinate you'll have more time to work on smaller chunks. If you're writing a 10 page paper and have several days to work on it, spend some days researching, and spend some days writing a few chunks at a time. Procrastination can often make a project seem even more tremendous in size. Make deadlines for yourself.
• Not all things in life are going to be fun and exciting but that doesn't mean we just stop doing things. Paying bills isn't that interesting but that doesn't mean we can avoid them. Or maybe what you think looks boring or uninteresting will be more fun than you thought once you get started.
• Can't decide what topic to write about? Choose a couple of topics that interest you and narrow it down from there. Start on the project early enough so that if you have to change topics you'll have time.
• Be confident! Remember the Bible verse: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.¹ If you're struggling with a task or don't understand it, ask someone who does understand it.
• If you're trying to study for an exam, don't study in your room if it's distracting you. Go somewhere away from the TV, Facebook and your neighbor who chats your ear off.
• I've found that when I study it doesn't help to go at it for nine hours straight. It helps to study for an hour, take a quick break and stretch, get a snack, call your mom. I think I have attention deficit disorder so my brain tends to shut off after about an hour of studying anyway.
• Look at the project that was assigned. Estimate how much time you think it'll take and then allow for a little extra time.
• Buy yourself a planner or even scribble out a schedule on a piece of paper and list the tasks you need to get done and when they need to get done by. Start with the projects that are most difficult or need to be finished sooner.
• Use the time that God has given you wisely.

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What ways have you found to overcome procrastination?

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Hopefully these tips have been useful. Get things done right away as possible — the sooner it's done, the sooner you can go enjoy your worry-free day!