how to stop procrastinating??!

[chocolatechipcookies]

Hi,

So I'm in Year 11 and I'm doing 2 3/4 subjects this year, plus 5 1/2 subjects.
At home (and even right now by writing this message) I'm procrastinating. I just simply *can't* get myself to study? I have plenty of time but I never get anything done 

I know I want to do well in VCE but ugh I don't think I'm gonna get there acting like this. I have removed distractions but heaps of my homework requires a computer so yeah :/ can't do much about it!

Someone help!! I feel like I really don't care about getting assignments in anymore, and I don't feel like studying for tests? sometimes I feel really confident that I will do well without studying anyway? :L

Thanks in advance

[Zealous]

At home (and even right now by writing this message) I'm procrastinating.

Don't worry, you're not the only one who uses AN to procrastinate. 
(well it's more justifiable than Facebook...)

I think you should try writing down everything you want to get done each day. As soon as you get back from school, get a small piece of paper out and list down a few things for each subject that you want to get done before you sleep. Keep it realistic and make it your best effort to get everything crossed off the list.

For your computer - if it really is becoming difficult to stay away from websites, these might help:
http://getcoldturkey.com/
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji?hl=en

[kk.08]

Wow, this is actually the story of my life!

I have 2 unit 3/4 subjects and 5 unit 1/2  subjects as well this year and I'm not doing as well as I want to... the main reason for this is clearly procrastination.

I've literally tried everything to stop and I don't know why but I just slack off every time!

Anyway, I'll look forward to see what tips/advice other people have

[sparked]

So procrastination is defined as a lack of self-esteem in approaching a task you believe you can't complete... Apparently. According to a psych textbook I read once.

And when I read it, I was like... Um no. I procrastinate because............ I am just- grudging to do my work? Setting myself up to do a worse job than if I tried as hard as I could? I don't know....

Every single human being procrastinates in some way shape or form. Some people procrastinate with exercise and they look excellent as a result haha others procrastinate with food, drinking water, randomly going for walks to different parts of the house, AN etc.

A friend of mine is setting up an app that amongst other things, prompts you to timetable just two hours a night of homework, vibrating your device at the beginning and end of each hour. Each time you either press a tick or a cross to say whether you completed it or didn't. The app then lowers the "expected" homework time for the next night by 15 minutes if you did not, at which point you feel so guilty and stupid you actually do more work... Haha I was the guinea pig for said function and my productivity absolutely sky rocketed. You build up in 15 minute chunks when you do complete the hour, a good equilibrium is eventually set.

Try breaking big tasks into smaller parts. Try shutting off distractions. Try deliberately taking a long, relaxing break JUST for relaxing and then do a study shift of JUST studying. Often people attempt to do both at the same time for a long period of time, not feeling like they either rested OR studied.

Sometimes it just takes sheer determination to do your work.
People also work faster and more efficiently under pressure, arguably leaving things to the last minute promotes the best allocation of your time and effort.

I remember last year in the lead up to my 3/4 bio exam my productivity was the best it had ever been, I'll post a thread in the biology forum on how I think I best my procrastination during that time, will link from here to let you know when it's done!

Good luck

[Blues Fan]

-Get someone to change all your passwords for Facebook, Instagram..
-Print off some motivational posters, literally stick them everywhere.
-Put as your wallpaper for your phone and laptop, little reminders to keep studying!
-Maybe put a timer on for 1 hour of hardwork then 15 minute break.

[Reus]

-Get someone to change all your passwords for Facebook, Instagram..
-Print off some motivational posters, literally stick them everywhere.
-Put as your wallpaper for your phone and laptop, little reminders to keep studying!
-Maybe put a timer on for 1 hour of hardwork then 15 minute break.

I do/have done all four haha!

[melons]

I've recently been trialling a new method that I use on weekends and holidays which I have found pretty good in increasing productivity and decreasing procrastination. Similar to what Blues said.
I set a timer for 1 hour and work and then have a break for 15 min, 20 if I think I've worked especially well. Then at around 3.30 or so I take a longer break at this is when I get tired and drastically reduce productivity. Normally I watch an episode of a tv show or something so the break is around 45 minutes long.
Maybe give this a go... It has definitely worked for me.

[walkec]

Like Gapster, I am a huge advocate of a stop watch. This helps you to practice working under timed conditions (which is handy practice for SACs and exams), but it also increases your productivity.

When I started using a timer, I could only handle 30 minute blocks. I have now increased that to 45 minutes and I feel it is just the right amount of time. I would definitely recommend using a timer.

At Officeworks you can also buy these "Daily Planner" sheets. When I get home from school, I write down everything I need to do and put time allocations next to them. When I see how much I need to get done, it kind of scares me into working because I realise how much there is to do, so this in a sense is enough motivation for me to avoid procrastination.

Breaking out of procrastination definitely involves using some discipline, but I think it's great you've identified this as an area you need to work on now as you are still in Year 11. I'd recommend beginning these new techniques this week so you can gauge an feeling of if these seem to be working for you. If they are great, keep it up and maintain it next term. If not, try another way of managing your procrastination until you find something that works. Personally, I tried to get people to change my passwords for social media and that wasn't manageable for me. But it might work for you, so it's just about trying different things out.

[Reus]

What really stood out for me when I was speaking to Yacoubb about this, was when he said something along the lines of

"The best means to combat procrastination is to feed it. If you begin to find yourself procrastinating, put the books down and take a break! We're only human, and sometimes we can't always study 24/7."

[Inside Out]

these are the steps:
1. Get your parents to turn off the wifi and hide the router
2.Lock yourself in your room
3. Remove all distractions
3. Sit there until you're bored
4. Eventually you'll find yourself studying

[brenden]

What really stood out for me when I was speaking to Yacoubb about this, was when he said something along the lines of

"The best means to combat procrastination is to feed it. If you begin to find yourself procrastinating, put the books down and take a break! We're only human, and sometimes we can't always study 24/7."

This is almost always my strategy. If I'm procrastinating too much then I don't even take a break. I just stop studying if I don't want to. Took me until uni to figure it out. Wish I did it more in high-school instead of just burning out and not doing anything for three weeks and feeling guilty. Now I just don't do anything for three weeks voluntarily but smash it (very happily) in a third of that time once I feel like it haha.

[chocolatechipcookies]

bump:

It's been over a month, I am STILL struggling

[Reus]

bump:

It's been over a month, I am STILL struggling

LOL same goes

[more_vanilla]

If your drive is strong enough, procrastination shouldn't be too big of a problem.
More than saying 'I want to do well in VCE' I think you should also address WHY you want to do well.
Also understanding that achieving a high study score isn't easy and that you're not the only one aiming for x study score. While you're procrastinating, someone else is picking up your slack. More likely than not, they will be the one achieving the study score you want because they put in the work to achieve it. Doing the work to get there isn't always going to be easy or fun but if it means getting the score you want (for whatever reason) then everything will pay off.
My teacher often says: "VCE is hard. It's meant to be. Doing well and achieving your goals wouldn't mean anything otherwise." And I agree.

So work hard OP! Because you can. Because you want to. Because if you don't, someone else will.

* TLDR: guilt tripping works. lol