Are you a procrastinator? A procrastinator is someone who waits until the last minute to do anything. Procrastinators rarely do something on time, and when they do, they act too quickly and tend to make mistakes. If you see yourself in this description, then read on!
Steps
Step 1. Make use of an agenda or calendar
Make sure you write down everything you need to accomplish. Be specific, write down the due dates and use the colors to distinguish the different degrees of priority (red stands for "urgent", blue stands for "exams", green means something "to be done by evening" and black something "to be done by next week").
Step 2. Start working properly
Don't put it off. Start working as soon as you get home from work or school. Whatever you need to do, start doing it! Plan ahead, leave with urgent things, making sure all your work is accurate and well-controlled. After completing the urgent homework, take a break. Eat a snack and watch some TV. If there is nothing interesting, just turn it off and just relax. Limit the break to just 15 minutes. It won't be easy at first, especially if you really like what you're watching, but you need to hold on and get back to work. Once you get used to it, turning off the TV will seem less of a challenge.
Step 3. Start with the tasks you have promised yourself to complete by evening
If you don't finish the things you planned to do today, you will have to do it tomorrow, regretting not doing them sooner. Each day brings with it new tasks to manage, but reserving them all for the same time will end up feeling exhausted and likely not being able to do anything correctly or on time.
Step 4. Use your free time wisely
Do you have time to spare? If the workday is over and you still have a good amount of free time, take advantage of it and start taking care of something you need to do within a week or two. Focus on good motivation: when time is running out and everyone else is running to finish in time, you can relax and watch TV, play outside, lie in the sun, go shopping, play football, dance and so on. You will not regret!
Step 5. Be kind to yourself
If you really insist on waiting until the last moment, do things in a timely manner, don't decide to simply avoid them. Otherwise, you will acquire negative habits and convince yourself that in everyday life it is okay to leave old tasks behind.
Advice
- Be positive.
- Each night, get enough sleep and rest well - it will help you be ready and energized for the next day.
- Resist TV, junk food, iPods, and computers. In case these things distract you, give yourself a time frame in which to use them, punishing yourself when you happen to give up (for example, giving your laptop to a friend or a brother for a week, to find out if and how you can survive without).
