5 Study Techniques to Combat Procrastination

Posted on Monday, March 11th, 2019

We’re all guilty of procrastination – but sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint why we’re doing it. Procrastination is more than just avoiding something we don’t want to do, “it also has to include an aspect that’s counterproductive, irrational or unnecessary,” says David Ballard, head of the American Psychological Association’s Center for Organizational Excellence. Procrastination can happen when we feel overwhelmed, distracted, or simply hit a wall. Whatever your reason is, we’ve got some interesting study techniques that will have you crossing things off your “to-do” list in no time.

1. The Pomodoro Timer

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method designed by Francesco Cirillo. It breaks down a task into a series of intervals, with short breaks in between. The intervals are usually 25 minutes, but this can be modified to suit your task. Here’s how to get started with the technique:

Choose your task.
Set a timer for 25 minutes.
Work until the timer goes off. Give yourself a checkmark.
Take a short break (up to 5 minutes).
Repeat until you have four checkmarks. Reward yourself with a longer break (up to 30 minutes).

Continue this process until you’ve completed your task!

2. The Forgetting Curve

From the University of Waterloo

Herman Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve is a mathematical formula that describes how we forget information over time if we don’t try to retain it. Ebbinghaus found that, in the first few days, we forget over half of what we’ve learned!

Luckily, there are things we can do to ensure that the information we’ve received during class isn’t lost by the end of the weekend. Our friends at the University of Waterloo recommend combating the Forgetting Curve by reviewing your notes every day: “Depending on the course load, the general recommendation is to spend half an hour or so every weekday, and 1.5 to 2 hours every weekend in review activity.”

In the first 24 hours after a lecture, review the material for at least 10 minutes. After that, set aside a few minutes each day to revisit your notes. Each time you study, you’ll recall the information faster and faster. By day 30, you might need just 2-4 minutes to “reactivate” your memory!

3. Stop Multi-Tasking

There’s a big difference between multi-tasking and taking breaks. As Psychology Today reminds us, neuroscience research shows that the “brain doesn’t really do tasks simultaneously” – we simply switch from one task to another quite rapidly. The constant switching between tasks can be taxing on our brains, and hinder our performance. Make sure that, when you’re working on something, you are fully focused on that task alone. That means not reaching for your phone unless you’re taking a break (maybe one of your Pomodoro Timer breaks)!

4. The 2-Minute Rule

Best-selling author James Clear has a simple rule that he follows to combat procrastination and reinforce good habits: The 2-Minute Rule. Essentially, when starting a new habit or task, scale it down to a two-minute version. Here’s an example:

Turn “Study for class” into “Open my notes”

This makes tasks easy to start, and once you’ve started, it’s easy to continue. A lot of procrastination stems from the daunting feeling of getting started; the 2-Minute Rule takes off the pressure by creating a task that is quick and easy to complete.

5. The Seinfeld Strategy

The thing that’s impressive about Jerry Seinfeld is how he’s been able to create content and perform so well and consistently year after year. How does he stay motivated? How does he overcome procrastination? His secret: don’t break the chain.

Here’s how it works: get a big wall calendar and hang it in a prominent place. For each day that you complete a task, put a big red X over that day. If you complete tasks every day, you’ll have a chain of X’s on your calendar. Seeing that chain grow each day will motivate you to keep it going. The only thing you have to do: don’t break the chain.

Need a little extra support to get started? We’ve got you covered.

Check out the Library’s online Time Management module for tips on how to get things done, track your assignments, and plan your semester.

Come to our Long Night Against Procrastination on March 20 (Ottawa campus), to tackle your to-do list while receiving study support, relaxation breaks, and free snacks!

Sign up for Study Skills Workshops on topics like exam prep, group work, avoiding procrastination, and more (Ottawa campus).

By Catherine Aylward, Interactive Media Management Student/Marketing and Communications Student Assistant