Procrastinating? Kazue Marion, Elicia McRae, Madelyn Rath, Robin Shuler, Eric Stephens How do I stop…

"Procrastination is not only pervasive; it's also pernicious." (O'Reilly)

Procrastination Defined To delay or postpone action To delay or postpone action To put off doing something To put off doing something Late 16th century, from Latin proctastinant Late 16th century, from Latin proctastinant "deferred until tomorrow,' "deferred until tomorrow,' pro- 'forward'+ crastinus 'belonging to tomorrow' (from cras 'tomorrow') pro- 'forward'+ crastinus 'belonging to tomorrow' (from cras 'tomorrow')

Why do we do it?! Thrill-seekers Thrill-seekers wait to the last minute wait to the last minute want "the euphoric rush" want "the euphoric rush" Avoiders Avoiders fear failure, and sometimes even success fear failure, and sometimes even success would rather be seen as lacking in effort than trying and failing would rather be seen as lacking in effort than trying and failing Decisional procrastinators Decisional procrastinators can't decide can't decide avoid taking responsibility for the outcome of the decision avoid taking responsibility for the outcome of the decision (“Why We Procrastinate”)

Tips on how to STOP!

Fake Due Dates Write down a false due date a few days before the assignment is actually due. Write down a false due date a few days before the assignment is actually due. Tell your friends the false due date- not the real one. Tell your friends the false due date- not the real one. Plan your schedule to have time to work before the false date. Plan your schedule to have time to work before the false date. If you do procrastinate, you will still have a couple of days to look it over. If you do procrastinate, you will still have a couple of days to look it over.

April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Actual Due Date PAPER DUE!!!

Task Days We procrastinate when we feel overwhelmed by a task that is too big. We procrastinate when we feel overwhelmed by a task that is too big. Break up your assignment into parts. Break up your assignment into parts. Make your own due dates for each part. Make your own due dates for each part. Spread them out over time before the actual due date. Spread them out over time before the actual due date.

April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Paper Due Rough Draft Due Revision Due Visit Writing Center Visit Writing Center Visit Writing Center

Narrow Down Your Topic Ask Ask What is the assignment asking for? What is the assignment asking for? What do I want to do for this assignment? What do I want to do for this assignment? Am I trying to do too much? Am I trying to do too much? Break down your assignment into two or three smaller ideas. Break down your assignment into two or three smaller ideas. Pick one to work on. Pick one to work on. If needed, you can expand to include the other ideas later. If needed, you can expand to include the other ideas later.

Writing in a Journal Writers may procrastinate because they don't know how to start. Writers may procrastinate because they don't know how to start. Some can’t figure out their argument, what points to cover, thesis, etc. Some can’t figure out their argument, what points to cover, thesis, etc. Writers can carry a notebook with them everywhere, writing stuff down whenever they get an idea. Writers can carry a notebook with them everywhere, writing stuff down whenever they get an idea. When writing the actual paper, they have an extended collection of ideas at hand, making it easier to choose what to write about and how to organize the paper. When writing the actual paper, they have an extended collection of ideas at hand, making it easier to choose what to write about and how to organize the paper.

Remove Distractions We get distracted when we are doing work we don’t want to do. We get distracted when we are doing work we don’t want to do. Distractions include TV, games, and friends among other things. Distractions include TV, games, and friends among other things. Distractions make procrastination appealing, so get rid of them! Distractions make procrastination appealing, so get rid of them! Do some fun stuff, then get to work. Do some fun stuff, then get to work. Remove yourself from the distractions. Remove yourself from the distractions.

Remove Distractions Schedule strict “fun time” before you begin. Schedule strict “fun time” before you begin. Watch your favorite program, or play a game, BUT KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE TIME! Watch your favorite program, or play a game, BUT KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE TIME! Once you get the urges out, you can focus. Once you get the urges out, you can focus. This does NOT work for everybody! And it doesn’t justify going to a party. You cannot guarantee how long a party will last, how alert you will be upon returning home, etc. This does NOT work for everybody! And it doesn’t justify going to a party. You cannot guarantee how long a party will last, how alert you will be upon returning home, etc.

Remove Distractions Work during quieter hours. Work during quieter hours. Loud at home? Go to the library, the park, the bus – anywhere you feel you can work. Loud at home? Go to the library, the park, the bus – anywhere you feel you can work. Turn off the TV, the computer, and THE PHONE! Turn off the TV, the computer, and THE PHONE! If you're the type who works better with noise, use music, not TV. If you're the type who works better with noise, use music, not TV. TV has visuals, so you look at it and are at risk of forgetting about the assignment TV has visuals, so you look at it and are at risk of forgetting about the assignment

Reward Yourself When you finish that essay, go out, treat yourself, and have a good time. When you finish that essay, go out, treat yourself, and have a good time. See a movie, enjoy a nice dinner, or buy a new CD. See a movie, enjoy a nice dinner, or buy a new CD. Get a good grade? Give yourself a bonus. You deserve it! Get a good grade? Give yourself a bonus. You deserve it! Self-motivation is a key role in life, especially in college. Self-motivation is a key role in life, especially in college.

Get Your Friends That’s right, enlist the help of friends! That’s right, enlist the help of friends! Tell your friends about your assignment and when it is due. Tell your friends about your assignment and when it is due. Ask them to check up on you and remind you to get to work. Ask them to check up on you and remind you to get to work. Ask for help getting started with researching, writing, studying, or just bouncing ideas off of. Ask for help getting started with researching, writing, studying, or just bouncing ideas off of. Friends can join you when you reward yourself! Friends can join you when you reward yourself!

Citations "Why We Procrastinate." Psychology Today. 01 Jul Retrieved Apr O’Reilly, Sally. “How to Beat Procrastination.” Occupational Health (2007):26.