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How to Overcome Procrastination in College
One of the easiest things for students to do in college is procrastinate. When students suffer from procrastination, they become inefficient and unproductive. We’ve probably all experienced some level of procrastination while in college.
We put off studying for a test or writing a paper until the last minute, then we’re stuck rushing to get them done and end up getting a bad grade. I don’t know about you, but I always regretted putting school work off until the last minute because I knew I would be stressing out to get it done.
I also knew I could’ve done a way better job on assignments if I just simply started them earlier. Unfortunately, it’s not so simple for a lot of students to suddenly stop procrastinating and give 100% focus on their work.
There are actually quite a few reasons why this is, which I explain below, but if you or someone you know is tired of wasting time procrastinating, then keep reading to find out the 10 tips I recommend for overcoming procrastination in college.
Why do Students Procrastinate?
Before I get into how to overcome procrastination, you first need to know why we even do it in the first place. One of the big reasons students procrastinate when trying to get work done is because they’re confused.
It’s no secret that college assignments can be a lot of work, but if students are confused on how to even do an assignment, then that will cause them to procrastinate. When students become indecisive and confused about their assignments, they start to become overwhelmed.
And I know first hand how much it sucks to become overwhelmed in college. The end of your term or semester is coming up and you have a bunch of papers to write, projects to finish, and loads of other work you haven’t even started on yet.
It’s easy to stress out and get anxiety with so much on your plate and that feeling of becoming overwhelmed starts to set in. If stress is something you’re struggling with, then I suggest you check out a previous guide I made about reducing stress in college.
Another big reason students procrastinate is because they get distracted. In college, there’s a million different things that can distract you and cause you to procrastinate.
Even distractions that are happening subconsciously because you’re so used to doing them all the time — like picking up your phone and scrolling through Instagram or TikTok. I was always someone who got distracted easily, so this was one of the main reasons I procrastinated in college.
Overcoming Procrastination in College
Learning how to overcome procrastination in college is essential to achieving academic success and maintaining your well-being. With the right strategies and techniques, you can effectively combat this barrier to productivity.
Below, you’ll find 10 practical strategies to overcome procrastination in college that breakdown how to enhance your focus, manage your time better, and be more productive.
1. Take Breaks
I’ve found that taking a quick break helps a lot if I’m not fully focused on an important task or just drawing a blank on something. I can go get a snack, go for a walk, or just sit outside for a little, then go back to work refreshed and refocused.
In college, it’s even more important to take breaks because with a huge work load, it’s easy for the mind to become overwhelmed. It’s okay if you don’t finish studying or get an assignment done right away. It’s better to spread things out over time and have breaks in between.
This will increase your mental performance, but you need to make sure you’re managing your time properly. This means not taking super long breaks and you’re getting your work done on time.
2. Put Your Phone Away
Having your phone out all time when you should be doing work is a huge distraction and will cause you to procrastinate. For me, it was easy to stay off my phone once it was away and out of sight. The problem was actually putting it away.
I’d go on it to check something and get completely sidetracked with what I was doing. A lot of times your phone will distract you and make you forget what you need to do to stay productive.
Even if you go on your phone with the intention of researching an article or calculating a math equation, you can still fall into the procrastination trap of checking social media or texting a friend. It’s not bad to do those things, you just need to stay disciplined and know when it’s time to stay off your phone.
3. Don't Multitask
There has actually been several studies done that show how our brains can only focus on one task at a time. Trying to do several things at once will actually slow down how fast our brains can process information and cause us to become less productive.
Students probably want to multitask because they have so much work to get done and think they’ll be more efficient that way. But in actuality, it’s just making them more inefficient.
4. Do the Harder Work First
Instead of putting off your harder assignments for last, try doing them first. For me, it was relieving finishing my harder assignments early in week so I didn’t have to worry about them again. For the rest of the week, I could focus on the easier coursework. This was key for helping me stay motivated in college and limiting my procrastination.
You can also be more productive overtime if you complete your harder tasks and college assignments first. If you think about it, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure if you do harder work last because you’ll have less energy, which will cause you to be less focused.
5. Get Enough Sleep
While it might seem obvious, getting proper sleep every night is very important. If you want to be more focused and productive everyday, you need to get the right amount of sleep every night.
Additionally, good sleep hygiene is going to help with your memory, make you think more clearly, and allow you to work at peak performance. These are all important factors that play key roles in your academic success.
6. Get Organized
It’s important to have a place where you can organize all your assignments and other tasks you have to get done. A planner, calendar, or just a notebook will work perfectly. It’s also a good idea to set certain reminders on your phone, such as assignment due dates, when you have exams coming up, and any extracurricular activities.
College life can be very hectic at times. If you have a lot of responsibilities besides just your classes, like jobs, internships, sports, and clubs, you can easily lose track of all the things you have to get done. The only way to stay on top of everything is by staying organized and planning things out.
7. Work Alone
This is a big one when it comes to distractions. A quiet place with little to no people is a excellent place to limit your distractions and get work done. This could be a place like your dorm room, but if you have one or more roommates who are there a lot and can be pretty loud, you should probably find another place to work.
You also might be someone who prefers working with a group of college friends, but if you find yourself procrastinating a lot with them, I would try working alone and see if you’re more productive that way.
8. Try Standing
I was suspicious of this at first, but after I did some research, I realized standing can definitely help you overcome procrastination. In fact, it can even make you more productive and improve your mood.
I wish I would’ve tried this when I was in college because I think it would’ve helped a lot when I was struggling to study or get work done. Standing more increases blood flow to the brain, which can increase cognitive performance. This means your concentration will improve, you’ll be able to focus better, process information faster, and have better memory recall.
It might be worth investing in a standing desk, or you can take a DIY approach by stacking some books or making room on a shelving unit. Either way, I would definitely try to stand more often when you’re studying or working on assignments.
9. Listen to Music
Turing on some music is an excellent way to stimulate your mind and give you some extra motivation to get work done. Any positive and uplifting music will definitely put you in a good mood and out of that procrastination slump.
When I was doing work in college, I would always open Spotify and put on some of my favorite songs. Even if I felt mentally drained after working on a paper or big project for several hours, I would still get a little boost of motivation if the right song came on.
10. Eat Healthy
Along with getting enough sleep, eating healthy is essential for your overall well-being. Unfortunately, many students rely on junk food for their nutritional needs because it’s cheaper and more convenient compared to healthy options. However, there are healthy food options available that are affordable and easy to find.
I recommend buying some single-serve oatmeal bowls and healthy snack packs with cheese, nuts, and dried fruits in them. If you have a mini fridge in your dorm, consider buying some low-fat yogurt, fresh fruits from your dining hall, and small packs of water.
Another option for getting healthy foods at affordable prices is with monthly subscription boxes. If you’re interested in receiving healthy snacks and other useful items for college every month, you should check out Cratejoy. They have hundreds of different food related subscription boxes and care packages.
