i keep procrastinating...how do i focus and just get my assignments done?
208882
I have procrastinated my way through school, university and my job (that is why I am on here). I have only just started understanding why I do it.\n\nThere are many reasons why - fear of failure, fear of doing something difficult, etc. There is only one solution - getting into a habit of starting (not finishing!) at a certain time. Set yourself a target of starting - doing 15 minutes and then you will find that you probably don't want to stop!\n\nDon't overburden yourself. Aim to start, not to get it done. Do 15 minutes NOW. Oh, and get off the internet. It will not help you right now.
4686
One of my favorite resources online that provides links to time management and other utilities is lifehacker. When you visit the site, there are a collection of links to the right that will help you find tools that will allow you to get better organized. \n\nI hope this helps!
210549
i have the same problem. what i've found to help is to listen to music. i have also found that doing it out side while playing with a pet or while talking to a friend help a lot because then you actually are concentrating but on two things. it should make it easier. or you could tryplaying a sport befor you do your homework.
444987
We all do it.  Try making a list and setting a time-table or deadline for each item.  Be realistic but also be firm with yourself when you see other stuff to do.   Make the effort to separate yourself from any distractions for a 1/2 hour or an hour each night to do some work on the items on your list.  You should find that as you start to work through them and you begin to see the end product emerging you might just get inspired to finish.  And if you don't stop that routine, you'll slowly program yourself into getting things done on time with only a little bit of procrastination.\nGood luck
558568
Really, it's a matter of organization and committment.  Are you organized, and do you prioritize?  Are you committed to getting the job done?  It sounds like you are.  Problem one solved.\n\nProblem two is that your tasks are taking longer than you expected.  Have you examined why they are taking longer?  Is it because you did not have all of the information or tools available?  Is it because the tasks were more complex than you originally thought?  Is it because you've allowed interruptions or other time-wasters to interfere?  Do you have a grasp of how long it typically takes you to accomplish certain tasks?\n\nIt does sound like it is a matter of understanding the time needed to complete tasks.  I would recommend the first step is some self-observation. Keep of a log of what you do and when you do it for a week.  Use that information to determine the length of time that is required to accomplish your tasks.  This will provide a better understanding so that the next time, you can commit without having to worry that you have not over-extended yourself.\n\nGood luck!
98641
Whoa! and i thought i was a procrastinator!!
61698
You do realize that you are now procrastinating? Just get up! Try doing things you have always wanted to do, put yourself infront of people you like.
470319
Find a quiet place where there's no distractions: computers, TV, radio, etc. \nGet everything you need to finish your homework: books, rulers, paper, etc. It's easier to get distracted if you're getting up every now and then to get something.\nSet your mind to it.\nOh yeah, don't spend your time on Yahoo! Answers.
111033
I also think that we procrastinators have a bit of what I call overwhelm syndrome... It's not an official term, it's just what I call being really overwhelmed.  We procrastinate and procrastinate and THEN we have a TON of stuff to do, and then we are so overwhelmed by it all, we don't know where to start!\n\nSelf talk and discipline is really important.  Making lists.. REALISTIC lists that you can get done that day.  Like don't put 50 things on the list because you want to 'take care' of all the procrastination issues you have been 'avoiding' in the last 6 months.. you'll fail, and then while you may have achieved a significant amouont of stuff, you won't have completed your list, so then you'd be unmotivated to go that round again.\n\nBe advised.. making a list doesn't 'fix it' in a day or a week.. and the first lists you make WILL be too long because of all the things you WANT to do.. don't get discouraged, everything worth doing in life takes work :)  Be patient and reward yourself lots!\n\nGood Luck!
326627
Procrastination, that evil of evils, can be beaten - if you take the right approach.\n \nSteps:\n1.  Look at the deadline of any new assignment you get and write it on your calendar. For assignments with no deadline - a frequent phenomenon in graduate school - impose a deadline yourself.\n \n2.  Imagine how the world will look on that date, to make it real to you: What will the weather be like? What else will have changed? Don't allow those changes to pass without finishing the assignment.\n \n3.  Calculate roughly how many hours the assignment will take.\n \n4.  Decide, before bedding down each night, how much time you're going to spend the next day on the assignment.\n \n5.  Remind yourself, upon waking up, of this amount of time.\n \n6.  Tell yourself that you won't allow yourself any leisure activities that day until you've put in the promised amount of time.\n \n7.  Reward yourself, when done for the day, in whatever way you see fit. This reward is key - having a positive incentive can make all the difference.\n \n8.  Don't be afraid to call your student services office. There are well-trained people out there who can help you.\n \n \nTips:\nFor particularly long assignments, don't think too much about how much work it will actually take to finish. Instead, take small steps and have faith that they'll add up to something big. After all, as they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.\n \nEvery person has his or her own style. Tweak this method in whatever way fits you best. For instance, if this process doesn't feel quite arm-twisting enough, try marking off each day on the calendar when you get up that day.\n \nRemember that you're not alone; lots of people are guilty of procrastinating.\n \n \nWarnings:\nDon't panic if you slip up the first day or two; it's still early. Take some deep breaths and re-commit yourself to doing the next day's work.\n \nTips from eHow Users:\nAccount For Your Time by Steve\nAt the end of the day, take a few minutes to account for what you've done. Include productive and non-productive activities. If you watched TV for an hour, write it down. If you worked for 15 minutes, write that down, too. That way, you'll know which activities you need to avoid the next day, and will be better able to gage how long your project *actually* took.\n\nTake advantage of your time in the bathroom by eHow Friend\nWhen you are using the bathroom, you really have nothing to do other than your necessities. You can take advantage of this by bringing a textbook or paper to write down all of your ideas for your paper. You might even bring your laptop. Since you have no distractions like TV or the Internet, you are almost forced to do some of your work. You may even stay in there, even after your done with your necessities, in order to finish reading a passage or writing something down. Sometimes I get so into it that my legs fall asleep. When you leave the bathroom you will be more willing to get back to work, since you were in the middle of doing it already.
247801
Revise and make sure you understand everything that is given to you. Do your homework and don't fall behind by not doing it. Revise or skim through your work everyday and make summaries or mind maps. Reading additional info will also help. And practice a lot. Concentrate and you'll be fine and don't stress yourself, organize-make a time table if you need to. And most of all be POSITIVE. \n(",) Hope that helped.
284510
First of all, you need to do a good job at work so you can afford your education! So do the project for work and focus on that right now. Then, Friday and Saturday devote to your homework due on Monday. Study a little bit each day until the day of the midterms. Focus on your notes from lectures. If there is any textbook reading assigned, read the subheadings, first sentence of each paragraph, and anything in italics or diagrams. If you have questions on them, look for further details. It's best to break up the studying into smaller parts each day because it sticks with you better. You either know it or you don't, so don't stress about the midterms. Make sure you get enough rest and drink lots of water, good diet. Then just do it!
26304
Do not study for all of your classes at the same time.\nFirst, pick the class that is either most difficult (or the one where your work is due soon) and concentrate only on that class. \nThen, make sure to take a break for awhile before studying the next subject. It takes a little bit of time for you to clear your head and refocus on a new subject so take that time to eat a snack, phone a friend, or check your email. Then when you feel "refreshed", tackle the next subject.\n\nI hope this helps. It works for me.
9940
Okay, I won't say just do it.  But I'm a procrastinator at heart but I find that even though I want to put things off I know that once I get started I will do what needs to be done and usually go on to do a bunch of other things.  If I don't start it won't get done.  It's just that simple.  I don't know if there is any actual cure for it.
621856
terrible, terrible procrastination method....\ni'll answer this question tomorrow
350390
Think of what your personally like. I LOVE hearts.\nSo mine could be Hart-Os or HEARTloops\nYou can be creative with teh name and with teh slogan make it reflect your personality.\nIf your teacher sees thsi effort you are more likely to get a higher grade as well.\nAnd yes, as a procrastinator myself I can tell you. Try to get it done as early as possible beacuse it is so muh easier.\n\nGood luck!
323566
Hey I did the same assignment and procrastinated like hell. Below is a link with a bunch of posters that you can use and easy to explain. \nhttp://portland.indymedia.org/en/2002/09/22177.shtml