If there’s anything like a chronic procrastinator, then I should definitely be on that list. I just don’t usually do my tasks immediately, and sometimes I forget about them completely or just push them to whenever I feel like doing them. It’s not like I don’t know that I have important things to do—it’s just that getting started always seems like the hardest part for me.
Right now, I’m at home for my first semester holiday, and by third week in March, I’ll be writing my exams. Ideally, I should have read at least most of my notes by now, but the truth is, I haven’t done much at all. I keep telling myself that I have time, but deep down, I know that time is running fast, and before I know it, the exams will be right in front of me.
Just last week, I told myself that I needed to read at least one of my notes. I even went as far as picking up the book and reading a few pages. But then, as soon as they brought the light, I closed the book and told myself I was tired—I would read it later. Well, up until this moment, that book is still exactly where I left it. I haven’t opened it again, and I know that’s not good. At the end of the day, I need to be fully prepared for my exams, and pushing things forward like this isn’t going to help me.
The thing is, I know this has been a pattern for me for a long time. I don’t really enjoy reading unless the exam is just around the corner. Two weeks before the exam, that’s when I start stressing myself out, having sleepless nights, and try to catch up on everything I should have been reading long before that time. It’s actually works for me most of the time but still it is frustrating because I know that if I had just started earlier, things would be much easier and I can even get better grades .
I have actually been thinking of ways to finally break out of this habit, and there are a few steps I want to take.
First, I need to put away distractions. I get distracted very easily, and sometimes, even when I have a serious task at hand, I find myself shifting my attention to irrelevant things. It could be my phone, TV, or even engaging in arguments with my friends. I know that if I want to change, I have to be intentional about removing anything that might take my focus away. If I’m going to read, I need to make sure my phone is not within reach and that I’m in a quiet place where nothing else can take my attention.
The second thing I need to do is create a schedule. Right now, I don’t have any real structure to my day. I just do whatever comes to my mind, whenever I feel like it. And that’s a big reason why I keep procrastinating. If I can create a proper schedule and allocate specific times for different activities—including reading—then I think i would have a better chance of actually getting things done. It would also help me stay consistent because I won’t just be relying on my mood to determine whether or not I study or do the things that are expected of me.
At the end of the day, I know breaking this habit won’t be easy, but I have to start somewhere. My exams are not going to wait for me, and I don’t want to find myself cramming everything last minute again.
Thanks for reading.