Top 8 tips on how to stop procrastinating!

As a student living in private accommodation, you may face many distractions and temptations that can lead to procrastination. Procrastination can make it challenging to focus on your studies and meet deadlines, which can negatively impact your academic performance. However, with a little effort and some helpful tips, you can overcome procrastination and stay on track with your studies.

1. Get organised

Keeping your accommodation in Leicester organized can help you stay focused and reduce the temptation to procrastinate. Make a to-do list, prioritize tasks, and set realistic deadlines to stay on track. Getting organized is one of the most effective ways to overcome procrastination. When you have a cluttered living space, it can be difficult to concentrate on your studies. You may be tempted to clean your room, rearrange your furniture, or tackle other tasks instead of focusing on your studies. However, by keeping your accommodation in Leicester organized, you can create a more productive and conducive environment for studying. A clean, organized living space can help you clear your mind and focus on your tasks.

One way to get organized is to make a to-do list. Write down all the tasks you need to complete, including assignments, projects, and other responsibilities. Prioritize these tasks based on their level of importance, and set realistic deadlines for each one. By breaking up larger tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. This can help you stay motivated and focused, even when you're facing a large or complex project.

Another way to stay organised is to create a designated study area in your student accommodation. This area should be free from distractions, such as loud noises or clutter, and should have all the materials you need to complete your assignments. When you have a designated study area, you can associate that space with productivity and focus. This can help you get into the right mindset for studying, even when you're feeling distracted or unmotivated.

In addition to keeping your accommodation in Leicester organized, it's also important to keep track of your schedule. Use a planner or calendar to keep track of important dates, such as exams, assignment deadlines, and social events. By having a clear idea of your schedule, you can avoid double-booking or forgetting important events. This can help you manage your time more effectively, reduce stress, and stay on track with your studies.

In summary, getting organized is an essential step in overcoming procrastination. By creating a to-do list, setting realistic deadlines, creating a designated study area, and keeping track of your schedule, you can create a more productive and conducive environment for studying. This can help you stay motivated and focused, even when you're facing distractions or difficult assignments.

2. Create a schedule

 Having a schedule is crucial in avoiding procrastination. Schedule your study time, breaks, and leisure activities, and make sure you stick to your schedule. Creating a schedule is an essential step in avoiding procrastination. When you have a schedule, you can manage your time more effectively, reduce stress, and stay on track with your studies.

To create a schedule, start by identifying the times of day when you are most productive. This may be early in the morning, in the afternoon, or in the evening, depending on your personal preferences and energy levels. Once you've identified your most productive times, create a schedule that includes dedicated study time, breaks, and leisure activities. Make sure to schedule regular breaks, such as a 10-minute break every hour, to help you stay focused and avoid burnout.

When creating your schedule, be sure to set realistic goals and allocate enough time for each task. Avoid overloading your schedule, as this can lead to stress and overwhelm. In addition to creating a schedule, it's important to stick to your schedule as much as possible. This means avoiding distractions, such as social media, TV, or other leisure activities, during your scheduled study time.

If you find that you're struggling to stick to your schedule, try using a timer or alarm to help you stay on track. This can help you avoid the temptation to procrastinate or get side-tracked by other tasks. By sticking to your schedule, you can develop a sense of routine and discipline, which can help you stay motivated and focused. This can also help you develop good time-management habits that will serve you well throughout your academic and professional career.

In summary, creating a schedule is an essential step in avoiding procrastination. By scheduling your study time, breaks, and leisure activities, and sticking to your schedule as much as possible, you can manage your time more effectively, reduce stress, and stay on track with your studies.

3. Explore the city

Leicester has many student areas and fun places to explore. Take breaks and explore the city to break up your study routine and keep your mind fresh. Exploring Leicester can be a great way to break up your study routine and avoid procrastination. Leicester is a vibrant and diverse city, with plenty of student areas and fun places to explore. Taking breaks to explore the city can help refresh your mind, reduce stress, and provide new inspiration for your studies. This can be especially important if you're feeling stuck or unmotivated in your studies.

There are many student areas in Leicester, such as Clarendon Park and Narborough Road, that offer a range of shops, restaurants, and other attractions. Exploring these areas can be a great way to connect with other students, find new places to study, or simply take a break from your studies. Leicester is also home to many cultural and historical attractions, such as the King Richard III Visitor Centre, Leicester Cathedral, and the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery. Visiting these attractions can provide a welcome break from your studies, while also helping you learn more about the city's rich history and culture.

If you enjoy the outdoors, Leicester has many parks and green spaces to explore, such as Abbey Park and Victoria Park. These parks offer plenty of opportunities to exercise, relax, or simply enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty of the city. Overall, exploring Leicester can be a great way to break up your study routine and avoid procrastination. By taking breaks to explore the city's student areas, cultural attractions, and outdoor spaces, you can refresh your mind, reduce stress, and find new inspiration for your studies. So don't be afraid to take a break and explore all that Leicester has to offer!

4. Use university resources

Both the University of Leicester and De Montfort University have resources available to students to help with procrastination, such as study groups and time management workshops. Utilize these resources to stay motivated and focused. Procrastination can be a challenge for many students, but the good news is that universities like the University of Leicester and De Montfort University offer a wide range of resources to help students overcome this hurdle. These resources are designed to provide students with the necessary tools and strategies to stay motivated, focused, and on track with their academic work. One useful resource is study groups. Joining a study group can be an effective way to stay motivated and engaged in your studies. Study groups allow students to collaborate with peers, share ideas, and gain valuable insights that can help them tackle challenging assignments. These groups can be found through university resources such as student organizations, study centres, and online forums.

Another useful resource is time management workshops. These workshops are designed to help students develop effective time management skills, prioritize tasks, and stay organized. By attending these workshops, students can learn valuable strategies for managing their time effectively, such as creating schedules, setting realistic goals, and avoiding distractions. Many universities also offer online resources, such as time management apps and tools, that can be used to help students stay on track and manage their time effectively. In addition to study groups and time management workshops, universities also offer academic counselling and coaching services. These services are staffed by trained professionals who can provide students with one-on-one support and guidance on a range of academic and personal issues, including procrastination. These counsellors can help students identify the underlying causes of their procrastination, develop personalized strategies for overcoming it, and provide ongoing support and encouragement.

In conclusion, if you are struggling with procrastination, there are a variety of resources available to you at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University. By taking advantage of these resources, you can stay motivated, focused, and on track with your academic work, and ultimately achieve your goals. Whether you join a study group, attend a time management workshop, or seek out individual counselling, the resources available to you can help you overcome procrastination and achieve academic success.

5. Prioritize self-care

Taking care of yourself is crucial in avoiding procrastination. Exercise, eat healthily, and get enough sleep. When you're feeling good, you're more likely to be productive. In addition to utilizing university resources, prioritizing self-care can also be an effective way to combat procrastination. When we take care of ourselves, we are better able to focus, manage our time effectively, and stay motivated to tackle our tasks.

One important aspect of self-care is exercise. Exercise has been shown to improve mood, boost energy levels, and enhance cognitive function. Engaging in regular physical activity can help reduce stress and anxiety, which are common contributors to procrastination. Whether it's going for a run, taking a yoga class, or lifting weights at the gym, finding a form of exercise that you enjoy can be a great way to promote overall well-being and combat procrastination. Eating a healthy diet is another important component of self-care. Eating a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients can help improve brain function and increase energy levels, both of which are important for staying focused and motivated. Avoiding sugary snacks and junk food can also help prevent energy crashes and reduce feelings of sluggishness.

Getting enough sleep is also crucial for avoiding procrastination. When we are well-rested, we are better able to concentrate, think clearly, and manage our time effectively. Lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, irritability, and difficulty focusing, all of which can make it harder to tackle our tasks. In addition to exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep, there are other forms of self-care that can help combat procrastination. Taking breaks throughout the day, spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies or creative activities, and practicing mindfulness can all help reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being.

In conclusion, prioritizing self-care is an important way to combat procrastination. By taking care of our physical, emotional, and mental health, we are better able to stay focused, motivated, and productive. Whether it's through exercise, healthy eating, or getting enough sleep, finding ways to prioritize self-care can be a powerful tool for overcoming procrastination and achieving our goals.

6. Find a study partner

Studying with a partner can help you stay motivated and focused. Find a study partner in your student accommodation or look for study groups on campus. Another effective strategy for overcoming procrastination is finding a study partner. Studying with a partner can help you stay motivated, focused, and on track with your academic work. It can also make the studying process more enjoyable, which can be particularly helpful if you are struggling to stay motivated on your own.

There are several ways to find a study partner. One option is to look for study groups on campus. Many universities offer study groups for specific courses or subjects, and these groups can be a great way to connect with other students who are working on the same assignments or projects. You can also try reaching out to classmates and asking if they would be interested in studying together. Another option is to find a study partner in your student accommodation. If you live in a dorm or shared housing, there may be other students who are looking for study partners as well. You can try posting a notice on a bulletin board or using social media to connect with other students who are interested in studying together.

When looking for a study partner, it's important to find someone who is committed to their studies and has similar goals and interests. You should also make sure that you are compatible in terms of study habits and learning styles. For example, if you prefer to study in silence, you may not want to partner with someone who likes to listen to music while they study. Once you have found a study partner, it's important to establish clear goals and expectations. You should agree on a study schedule and set specific deadlines for assignments and projects. You should also establish ground rules for how you will work together, such as how you will divide tasks and how you will communicate if one of you needs to cancel or reschedule a study session.

In conclusion, finding a study partner can be an effective way to overcome procrastination. By working with someone who is committed to their studies and has similar goals and interests, you can stay motivated, focused, and on track with your academic work. Whether you find a study partner in your student accommodation or through a campus study group, this strategy can be a valuable tool for achieving academic success.

7. Set small goals

 Breaking up larger tasks into smaller goals can make them less overwhelming and more manageable. This can help you stay motivated and avoid procrastination. Setting small goals is another effective strategy for overcoming procrastination. When we are faced with large or daunting tasks, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and feel like we don't know where to start. Breaking up these larger tasks into smaller, more manageable goals can help make them less intimidating and easier to approach. One effective way to set small goals is to use the "SMART" framework. This framework suggests that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. By setting goals that meet these criteria, you can ensure that they are realistic, actionable, and well-defined.

For example, if you have a large paper to write, you could break it up into smaller goals such as:

• Spend 30 minutes brainstorming topic ideas
• Write an outline for the paper by the end of the day
• Complete a rough draft of the introduction by Friday
• Finish writing the first two sections of the paper by next Tuesday
• Edit and proofread the entire paper by the following Friday

By setting these smaller goals, you can make the larger task of writing a paper more manageable and less overwhelming. Each time you achieve one of your smaller goals, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and progress, which can help keep you motivated and focused on the task at hand.

It's also important to celebrate your successes along the way. When you achieve a small goal, take a moment to acknowledge your accomplishment and reward yourself in a small way, such as taking a short break or treating yourself to a favourite snack. In conclusion, setting small goals can be an effective way to overcome procrastination. By breaking up larger tasks into smaller, more manageable goals, you can stay motivated and focused on your work. By using the SMART framework and celebrating your successes along the way, you can achieve your goals and overcome procrastination.

8. Celebrate your accomplishments

 When you complete a task or achieve a goal, celebrate your accomplishments. This can boost your motivation and help you stay on track. Celebrating your accomplishments is an effective way to combat procrastination because it provides positive reinforcement for the effort you put into a task or goal. Many people struggle with procrastination because they feel overwhelmed or unmotivated. Celebrating your accomplishments can help to counteract these negative feelings and provide a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

When you celebrate your accomplishments, it can give you a boost of confidence and self-esteem, which can motivate you to continue working towards your goals. This positive reinforcement can be as simple as acknowledging your accomplishment to yourself or others, treating yourself to something you enjoy, or even throwing a small party to mark the occasion. Moreover, celebrating your accomplishments can help you to break up larger tasks or goals into smaller, more manageable pieces. By setting smaller milestones, you can celebrate your progress along the way, which can help to keep you motivated and on track.

Another way that celebrating your accomplishments can help with procrastination is by helping you to focus on the present moment. When you celebrate what you have accomplished, you are reminding yourself of what you are capable of and what you have achieved. This can help you to stay focused on the task at hand, rather than getting distracted by other things or feeling overwhelmed by what is still left to do. Overall, celebrating your accomplishments is an important tool for overcoming procrastination. By providing positive reinforcement and helping you to stay motivated and focused, celebrating your accomplishments can help you to break through the cycle of procrastination and achieve your goals. So, the next time you complete a task or achieve a goal, take the time to celebrate your accomplishments and enjoy the sense of achievement that comes with it.

In conclusion

In conclusion, as a student, procrastination can be a significant obstacle to academic success. However, by organizing your accommodation, creating a schedule, sticking to a budget, exploring the city, using university resources, prioritizing self-care, finding a study partner, setting small goals, and celebrating your accomplishments, you can overcome procrastination and stay on track with your studies.