Hoarding image courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System

So we’ve all probably seen those shows documenting people with extremely obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who end up hoarding everything possible, until it consumes their lives and everyone around them. Most of us are lucky not to suffer from this serious disorder.  However, how many times have you found yourself saving a magazine or newspaper because you tell yourself “sure, I’ll read this later, so I will hang onto it until then”? Come on, you know you’re out there. Read the full story

Sometimes folks forget that they can print their assignments.  They just assume that an online classroom means that you have to read everything electronically.  Especially in this day and age when we’re all worried about waste and the environment. 

However, too often, important information is missed when reading on the computer. Print off lectures and assignments and store them in a folder near your workstation so that the information is available any time you need to quickly reference it.  You can print on recycled paper, with recycled ink and then recycle your notes after your course is complete.  By having a well organized well documented set of syllabi and course materials, you’ll be able to reference things from previous weeks quickly and efficiently. 

Additionally, by printing your assignments, you’ll be able to easily take notes and highlight important passages in the materials.  Just because you’re taking a class online with an e-book, that doesn’t mean you cannot print.   Also, if you have computer or internet access issues down the road, you’ll buy your self some extra time by printing assignments out early.

(source: Online Education Database)

Follow us on Twitter

If you’ve been putting off a huge end-of-semester assignment because you don’t know where you’ll find the time to fit it in your busy schedule, it helps to start small. Begin working for just ten minutes on the daunting task. Almost any task,  no matter how unpleasant, or anxiety provoking, can be tolerated for a short amount of time.

When you are having difficulty sitting down to work, set yourself the small but significant goal of working for just ten minutes on the project. After you’ve fulfilled that promise to yourself, you are free to either continue working or to stop.

Further Tips for the Tolerable Ten

1. If you haven’t been working at all, start by doing anything and stop after ten minutes. In other words, the less you’ve been doing the lower your expectations should be at first. If you put in your ten minutes, and you have succeeded. One of the main benefits of the tolerable ten is to start rebuilding your trust in yourself.
2. If you have been working fairly consistently, try using the tolerable ten for the hardest tasks, whether starting a section of rough draft writing, or contacting the advisor you’ve been avoiding.
3. Even on a day that is full of duties unrelated to your main academic goal, try to squeeze in a tolerable ten. Before you go to bed at night, check whether you’ve logged in ten, if not, do it then. A commitment to consistency will keep your conscious and unconscious mind connected with your project.
4. Reward yourself, at least mentally, for completing your daily ten. Focus on process rather than product. It is not whether the words you’ve just written were brilliant, it is that you sat down and did what you said you would do. Small, concrete rewards are ideal: ten minutes with the newspaper, a phone call to a friend, a relaxing bath, a scoop of ice cream, wearing your favorite shirt, a cup of cappuccino.
5. Precede time-sapping activities (such responding to email) with a tolerable ten.

(source: Successful Academic)

Follow us on Twitter

If you’re dragging your feet to get assignments in when they’re due, then it’s probably time to try something new. The clock and calendar can be any one’s worse nightmare, especially when you throw a full-time job and a full class schedule into the mix. Nobody wants to get penalized for turning in a paper or assignment late, but sometimes it happens. Make the most of the time you have, and actually get things done.

This is easier than it seems. Waiting to the last minute is a choice, but with better time management and organization skills, you won’t have to dread due dates anymore.

• Have a goal in mind? Write it down.Listing is a great way to organize your thoughts and priorities. You can include class assignments, deadlines for projects, and anything you have going on at home. As long as you have it written down, you can physically see what you need to work on. Sometimes making a deadline tangible will give you the initiative to see it through to completion.
• Pick a date. This one is easy enough, but often overlooked. We book doctor appointments, hair appointments, and vacations, but why not school? Just as important, if not more so, than other more trivial ”dates”. Set a date to accomplish the task and then move on to the next thing on your list.
• Don’t get stuck, give yourself a break.Often times we find ourselves trapped in a bubble of deadlines, strict schedules, and no breathing room. When this happens loosen up the slack and re-prioritize everything you have going on.  Working in small intervals can be best here. Instead of applying a level of perfectionism to each task, assess each task’s importance and give it the appropriate amount of intensity.
• Ask for help. If you feel stuck, or like you can’t get started, don’t let that deter you from beginning altogether. Help can come from several angles. Try your professor, a classmate, a family member or a friend. Inspiration can come from the strangest places, don’t hold back on asking for help when in need.
• Finish your list. “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task” – William James As you approach your “due date” removing more trivial items from your list may help in motivating you to finish the things that really need to get done. Say a project worth a good portion of your grade, this should have priority over other items. Make sure to allot time to the bigger tasks, so you don’t get sidetracked with the smaller ones.

Teachers typically give extended due dates to projects that require more planning and time, keep that in mind and don’t save it for the last minute. As with most things in life, moderation and a steady pace will help keep your head above water. You’ll just need to decide whether you want to sink or swim to get there. It’s really all about balance in the end. Making the best use of your time can be the key to breaking out of a procrastination rut.