How to Procrastinate but Still Get Some Work Done

Procrastination.
It's something done by many young students on a daily basis. After long days at school we deserve a break right? No need to come home and start into homework right away. No need to rush into the chores. Kick back and relax before getting back into the work!

Unfortunately though it never seems to work out well. Sure you're pretty happy taking that break but in the back of your mind is the nagging feeling of stuff to do. You can't fully enjoy yourself with that knowledge lurking about. And when you're trying to push through the end of your essay at 1am you'll regret the procrastination.

What we need is to procrastinate in an organized controlled manner so you get the immediate benefits, yet don't have to deal with the consequences later.

Rather than just procrastinating as long as possible and cramming all your work in at the last minute break it up and spread it out. Set yourself small tasks and reward yourself each time you complete one.

Say for example you have a bunch of chores to do around the house yet Goliath by Scott Westerfeld is just crying out to be read. Do one chore, say dumping the garbages, then read a chapter. Then dust a couple rooms, read a chapter. And so on. The work doesn't feel so bad when you only do a bit at a time.

Another matter is the internet. This is probably the biggest factor in procrastination, it's so easy when you're typing up an essay to just click over to facebook or tumblr. Assert some self control, don't click every few seconds. Write a paragraph then take a couple minutes, and only a couple, to check out what's new, write another paragraph, etc.

Don't forget the usefulness of commercials on tv. Rather than sitting down for an entire show before doing your work try and get something done each commercial. Do you ever really watch them anyways?

Keep aware of time and try to balance it out. If you're short on time try to get slightly bigger chunks of work done before each break, keeping the breaks shorter. If you know going on tumblr will suck you in for an hour set an alarm for five minutes, or whatever time you think best.

If fun is completely cut out there's not much to motivate you to get your work done. Procrastination is not the enemy as long as you develop a good relationship with it.

DFTBA,

-Kim