As exams approach, discover practical advice to overcome Procrastination and optimize your preparation. Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media when you should be studying? Or maybe you waited until the last minute to complete a school assignment? If so, you’re not alone. Procrastination is a common challenge many students face and can be a significant barrier to academic success. However, it is essential to remember that success in exams is not only about the quantity of information you have but also the quality of preparation and general well-being.
In this blog post, we will share with you the best tips to overcome stress and prepare yourself as best as possible for your exams.
What is Procrastination?
Procrastination is a phenomenon that most students face. It manifests itself in the constant postponing of important tasks and issues for later, which often leads to stress, dissatisfaction, and decreased academic achievement. The ways students procrastinate can vary from person to person. Here are some common forms of procrastination:
- Watch the latest videos on YouTube
- Read a fascinating article on some interesting topic
- Walking back and forth to the kitchen to eat cookies one by one
- Planning your next vacation
- Redecorating your room
- Over-planning tasks
Causes of procrastination
Some reasons can be pointed out for resorting to such a postponement:
- Low self-esteem- pronounced self-critical habits, lack of confidence in one’s resources.
- The existence of unrealistic and unattainable expectations can lead to inaction.
- Emotions such as stress, anxiety, frustration or boredom associated with the task to be performed, as well as the fear of failure if one tries or, at the other extreme, fear of success, also the judgment of others, change or the unknown.
- Excessive planning and perfectionism.
- The feeling of dissatisfaction is experienced, either at a general level or specifically in different areas, such as at work, in studies, or relationships.
- Difficulties in self-regulation, a tendency towards impulsiveness and wanting everything urgently, which acts by sabotaging longer-term interests.
Procrastination is a strategy by which a person seeks to protect themselves, either from fear of change, from the judgment of others, or the stress and anxiety associated with the situation, and with this objective of protection, the alternative is immobility, which sometimes generates greater discomfort and suffering than undertaking the task itself.
How to fight against procrastination and learn to revise well?
Below we are giving you some tips to avoid procrastination.
Understanding procrastination:
Identify the reasons for your procrastination. Is it related to anxiety, lack of interest or a feeling of overwhelm? Understanding the source can help find suitable solutions.
Find your source of motivation:
Thinking about what motivates you to continue your studies and succeed in your exams can help you to have a clearer mind and re-motivate yourself.
Set realistic goals:
Break your tasks into small, achievable steps. Clear, achievable goals make the task less daunting and reduce the temptation to procrastinate.
Create an environment conducive to work:
Set up a comfortable and dedicated workspace for your revisions. An environment that is organized and arranged as you like will help you feel comfortable in your revision place.
Establish a revision schedule:
Simply writing down the main information about your courses and what you will need to do to learn them is an effective step, as it allows you to get down to business and quickly become clear about what needs to be done. Additionally, checking off the tasks completed during your day will encourage you and push you to continue on this path.
Find an accountability partner:
Share your goals with a friend or fellow student. Mutual accountability and support can encourage you to stay on track.
Redo old exams
To familiarize yourself with the exam format and identify your weak points, retaking old exams is a very effective method. This active method has several positive points such as teaching you to manage your time, understanding what teachers expect from you or improving your confidence.
Use mnemonics
Do you have a series of words or characteristics to remember? Use or even create mnemonic devices to help you remember them. For example, you can put together the first letters of each word to create a catchy phrase or word that will be easier to remember.
Avoid distractions
Avoiding distractions is important for productivity and concentration while studying. When you eliminate these factors, you can focus on tasks more effectively and achieve better results.
Identify distractions—The first step in eliminating distractions is to identify them. These could include social media, phone calls, device notifications, noise, conversations, and more. Make a list of the factors that most often interfere with your concentration.
- Eliminate distractions- Once you’ve identified the distractions, begin eliminating them. For example, if social media is your biggest distraction, you can set time limits on its use or even block access while you’re studying. If noise is a distraction, find a quiet place or use noise-cancelling headphones.
- Organize your workspace—One way to combat distractions is to create a dedicated workspace. This is a place where you focus only on studying or working. Make sure that this space is free of distractions, such as television or video games. It could be a dedicated study desk or even a corner of the library.
- Set time for rest – It is also important to remember to take breaks and rest time. Taking regular short breaks can help you regain your focus and prevent fatigue. During breaks, you can allow yourself to relax and check notifications on your phone or chat on social media.
Avoiding distractions takes self-discipline, but it’s worth it. It will help you fight procrastination and allow you to use your time more effectively to achieve greater academic success.
Get help and support from a reputed educational centre
If procrastination is starting to seriously impact your life and ability to get things done, it is important to remember that there are people who can help you overcome this problem. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and support from Kalibre Education. Here, our professionals can be helpful advisors. They can give you the advice you need to manage your time effectively or simply provide support.
It’s important to remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By sharing your worries and concerns with others, you open the door to problem-solving and support that can help you overcome procrastination and achieve your goals. Overcoming procrastination is a process that requires effort and self-discipline. But with the right approach and persistence, you can dramatically improve your ability to focus and succeed. Don’t put it off – start fighting procrastination now!
