Procrastination

You are at home, sitting at the dining table. Books and notes are scattered around you as you read the same sentence for the fourth time. Studying is a bore. So you look up and glance around the room, noticing things you hadn’t noticed before: the floor wants a sweep, and yesterday’s dishes are still stacked on the sink, unwashed! Furniture hides under a blanket of dust. Which reminds you; your room needs a tidy-up.

Once everything is done, you make your way back to the books. Now you're noticing the time. Yikes! Where has the afternoon gone?

You shrug and resign yourself to the harsh reality that study will have to wait another day.

This doesn’t just happen to students; it can happen to anyone with commitments. I often hear of people rushing to finish their work projects, or finding new and novel ways to delay the very thing they should be doing next.

If we don't want to do something, we will usually avoid doing it. Which makes sense – except that in the course of living we are regularly required to carry out tasks we'd rather not do.

So how do we overcome this?

A Murdoch University website provides key points on how to manage your time. For example, by organising your study environment, using a diary to keep track of tasks and deadlines and most importantly, to get started with the work.

Procrastination can be minimised if we eliminate distractions such as facebook and television.

The website also states that taking time out for oneself, is also important.

Words by Rhovie Hulleza