Study Skills: Time Management

It’s difficult, as a student, to keep yourself from procrastinating when it comes to homework. I, myself, seem to get caught in the trap of waiting to the last minute to get assignments done. And yet, we all kick ourselves when we do procrastinate because of the added stress of time and worry about lack of quality in the assignment you have to turn in. So what leads, even the best students, to procrastinate?

§  Distractions: television, Facebook, friends, family, pets, work, etc.

§  Special events: family gatherings, get together with friends, and other events

§  Poor attitude: apathy, depression, anxiety, boredom, etc.

Here are a few tips on what to do when you find yourself in the procrastination sand trap.

§  Break down large tasks into chunks. Spending hours on one thing is going to cause brain fry. Working on parts of the project will give you a sense of accomplishment and good feelings.

§  Use a timer. Allow yourself breaks during studying to spend some time on yourself. But set a timer. When it goes off, get back to work. If you think you will ignore your timer, use a small egg timer and put it next to your homework. It will force you to face the issue. And since you are in front of it, you might as well do it.

§  Change your attitude. Write down why you don’t want to do your school work. Talk to a friend. Why are you avoiding it to begin with? Once you understand your lack of motivation, you can overcome it.

§  Form a study session with classmates. Misery loves company, so you might as well get your homework done with a buddy. Group sessions can be good for students who have apathy issues or learning problems. Not every teacher can reach every student but having a friend or two that understands or can show the material in a different way might help.

§  Change your study atmosphere. If you find yourself getting distracted at home, head to a coffee shop or the library. With that said, there are some places I find too distracting to study in. Experiment and see what works for you.

§  Hire a tutor. Tutors have been through what every student has been through before. We can help you set up a study schedule and train you how to study better. Plus, we will hold you accountable. We will reteach the material in the way you learn it. One-to-one and small group tutoring will help the student change their attitude about schoolwork and make it seem more enjoyable!