The topic of focus this week was procrastination. As learned in class, 20% of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators. For certain individuals, procrastination is a lifestyle and can be a very serious problem in everyday life. Thankfully, I do not consider myself a procrastinator and I never have been. There are some assignments or tasks that I feel like putting off simply because they are difficult for me or I do not have any interest in them, but I seem to get things done before deadlines or at least at a reasonable time. I understand procrastinators fully though, even though I do not wish to be one ever, those who procrastinate we also learned to be made and not born that way. Procrastination can be a form of rebellion, they tend to tell themselves lies, continuously they search for distractions, and they have higher levels of alcohol consumption alone with difficulties controlling their behavior.
As I said previously, I am not a procrastinator, however there are three categories of procrastinators. Individuals are either arousal or thrill seekers, avoiders, or decisional procrastinators. If I had to pick one of the three types, I would best fit into the decisional procrastinator category. I am a terrible decision maker and I am extremely indecisive, I also tend to blame my problems on something or someone else other than myself if things do not go the way as planned. This type of procrastinator may go along with the type of learner I am, which his a visual and kinesthetic learner. Everyday I kinesthetically write down what I have to do that day, and take note of my assignments and schoolwork for the day and weeks at a time, so I can visually see what needs to be done. Sometimes after I write down my agenda and assignments I become highly overwhelmed with everything I need to accomplish, therefore I take a step back and can’t make a decision what to start first or complete so I give up and wait until times become crucial because I don’t know how to handle it. On the other hand, I know I have to carry out the mechanism of “LAME” so action must be taken. I usually look at my planner and tackle the easiest assignment first that I will be able to finish fast and efficiently so therefore I get in a groove and am able to start working on the following assignments that I need to eventually get done.
With the topic of procrastination I learned more than enough strategies to help me deal with the awful disease of procrastination-nation. I used procrastination techniques in two of my classes this past week. The usual courses were used, including Spanish 201 and actually CLS 105. For Spanish 201 I applied the study partner technique. I had an exam and instead of procrastinating and getting distracted in my room by myself and sitting at my desk looking around for things to catch my mind other than Spanish material, I called up a friend who is also in the same class and we studied together. I find this strategy very helpful because it forces me to study because I am with someone else and it is beneficial for me to learn what the partner knows and it is unfair for me to not try and study the material with the other student also. Instead of just walking around and visiting another person in my dorm who take Spanish 201, I called up someone in my class who studies hard and takes the class seriously. I knew that if I just walked into my close friends room and attempted studying Spanish the topics of studying or discussion would quickly transform into blabbing about something not Spanish related at all. This strategy works well because peer pressure is involved and I never want to upset or have my peers suffer from my doings. I would recommend this technique and especially reach out to someone who may not be your best friend, because they may be great at learning material and going over it with you in the end.
For CLS 105, I used the strategy of “Schedule a Day at a Time.” Even though this strategy is in our CLS books and we went over it in class, I have actually been using this strategy for a while now and I didn’t even realize it at first. It was always second nature for me to make a to-do list everyday or create a schedule for myself and write it down. I love writing down all of the classes I have each day and then writing in tasks I need to complete, extra stuff, and the homework that needs to be completed that day. I feel so productive when I schedule a day at a time because I can see my agenda and soon it becomes imprinted in my brain so as I go from class to class I think of the things I need to do after. Especially with this technique, I write down what I need to finish for the weekends, and I know I have a blog due every Sunday, therefore on Thursday I write down that I should write my blog in between my two classes on Thursday morning. This is the furthest action from procrastination; I complete my blogs on Thursday mornings so I only need to post it when the weekend comes around. I recommend “schedule a day at a time” because it helps people like me stay on task and feel very productive by the end of the day. I write down my classes in order, and then in between my classes if I have time I write that I need to go to the library and complete certain assignments. Then, after my classes I write the times and when I should go back up to my dorm and work on some homework due the next day, work out, call my parents, plan ahead and try and get ahead with my life in general. Crossing the tasks off of the list is also a rewarding feeling, so hop on the to-do list bandwagon!
Procrastination can be a deadly sin in a student’s life and I think people would be happier as a whole utilizing strategies for procrastination that allow them to be more productive on a day to day basis. The feeling of accomplishment in the end is satisfying and this leaves time for yourself to do what you really want to do outside of homework and hectic schoolwork.
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