Feeling so overwhelmed and anxious about your workload that you 'freeze', put things off and don’t get anything done.
Putting off starting a task because it feels so overwhelming or difficult that you can't face it.
Break up the workload into small chunks.
This is a very effective strategy. Break up work into as many small, achievable tasks as you can. Then when you sit down to study, you are not facing a huge, daunting pile of work, but one small task.
Complete a 'chunk' every study period. It might be a task or a period of revision. Take a break after completing a 'chunk'. If it's something you've really been dreading, reward yourself when you’ve done it!
Putting off starting a task because you are 'busy' with other things (even though you know you should be studying).
Feeling that you 'must' complete irrelevant tasks or do lots of 'preparation' before you can start studying is a classic procrastination tactic.
Putting off starting a task because you won't be able to produce a 'perfect' result.
Instead of perfection, aim for reasonable results. Rather than aiming for a masterpiece each time, it's better to produce something - and pass - than to put it off for so long that you produce nothing at all.
If you're concerned that you won't manage to produce reasonable results, it's time to get a little help. Consult with your lecturer/ tutor or make an appointment with a Writing Assistant. Don't be afraid to ask for advice - knowing when and where to find help when you need it is part of taking control of your studies.
Whether we like it or not, we are surrounded by distractions cometing for our attention. Yet giving into them can really derail your productivity and become another method of putting things off.
Distractions never go away - you have to actively fight them and focus on study:
1. Identify what distracts you. Is it social media, trashy mags, email, or mobile, flatmates? Identifying distractions is key to blocking them.
2. Set firm goals for yourself and set specific timeframes for completing them (starting with short term goals can be easiest).
3. Zone out everything else. Turn off your phone and leave it in another room, close email and social media. Hang a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door; put on ear phones and listen to some ambient sound to block out external noise or conversation.
4. Reward yourself when the work is finished – but only if you’ve remained focused and used the time well.
Finding it hard to sustain a focus on your work because you constantly 'drift off' and think of other things.
Check your energy level and concentration.
Deciding that "I didn't want to do this course / study / unit anyway!"
Students do change their minds about their studies. They may feel they have taken the wrong path, or that their talents lie elsewhere. However, changing courses should be rational decision, not a reaction made out of frustration because the work is 'too hard'.
This activity can help you to define exactly what has been stopping you working. It's likely you'll have a list of benefits (starting with 'relief that the task is finished!') and a few reasons (such as "I really don't understand this assignment") you can then challenge yourself to sort out.