I recently had a student share how even when they set an alarm, they'll stay in bed for an hour or two more because it's just hard to find the motivation to get up sometimes. Can you relate?
How often do you say to yourself, “I know I *should* be doing X, but instead, I'm doing Z?” And then you proceed to beat yourself up because even though X feels good at the moment, Z is what will keep you moving toward your goals.
Sometimes, the thing you're avoiding is really scary. Sometimes, the thing feels so big and overwhelming that it's easier to keep sidestepping. The part that sucks is when a deadline becomes impossible to ignore; the project itself is infinitely harder because we're so pressed for time to complete it.
It doesn't even have to be school-related. It's just as easy to procrastinate on those things we know are “good for us.” You know you enjoy going for a walk, but some days it just feels harder, so you don't. You know you feel better when you drink water, but some days, you want to drink pop.
We could spend hours examining the psychological reasons we procrastinate and avoid things.
The question is: what can we do about it right now?
Here are three ideas:
- Create a timeblock. Schedule ONE HOUR in your day dedicated to doing the ONE THING you've been avoiding. Write the one thing on a sticky note and post it where you can see it. Turn off your phone. Dedicate this one hour to only that one thing and see how far you get. Even if you make minimal progress, you will have broken the seal and at least started. It's usually easier to proceed from there.
- Find a friend! External accountability works wonders, especially when you've been stuck in the mud for some time. Set a goal and tell a friend. Check-in once you've completed it. Rinse and repeat.
- Reward yourself. Pick something that brings you joy or relaxation, and give yourself that GIFT once you complete the task. Sometimes, you have to play little games with your mind. Chances are, the task becomes more palatable when you envision yourself enjoying the reward.
