Do you often think: “It’s not a problem, I can always do it tomorrow”?

Everyone puts things off now and again, and in the short term it can do us good, as something negative and stressful is simply blanked out. In the long term, however, this can create real problems. Just because you put something off does not mean it has gone away. Writing a seminar paper, cleaning the kitchen, doing your tax return – these things don’t just disappear and if you keep postponing them, they can become a burden instead.

Want to be more productive? Does your tendency to put things off cause you stress? Here you will find some useful tips and practical exercises to help you be more productive and put an end to procrastination.

Procrastination – an everyday phenomenon.

Procrastination can happen anytime and anywhere: you can put off everyday things like doing the dishes, booking a dentist appointment or even important projects that you can’t bring yourself to do. These include writing an assignment or studying for an exam.

Sometimes postponing a task can even be sensible, for example, if you have an important decision to make. In this case, it can help to “sleep on it”. There are many reasons for putting things off, and equally putting things off can have just as many consequences.

The vicious circle of procrastination.

In the short term, delaying something can make you feel good, because it makes time for things you want to do. You don’t think about the long-term consequences, or if they are positive or negative. This is how you can end up in a vicious circle:

• Do you prefer watching your favorite TV series or tidying your room instead of writing a difficult paper?
• How do you feel the moment you decide to do something enjoyable instead of starting on research?

You probably feel relief, at least in the short term. In the long term, however, the pressure to complete the task will increase as the submission deadline gets closer and closer. This probably makes you increasingly uncomfortable and maybe you start to worry about whether you can do it at all. Getting your paper done on time and to a high standard thus becomes progressively unrealistic. The problem grows bigger and bigger and so you put it off even more.
This is the vicious circle of procrastination and it needs to be broken.

Don’t give chaos a chance – being well organized is half the battle.

Does it frustrate you when your plans don’t work out? This is no reason to abandon planning altogether. Because good time planning creates a sense of achievement. To do this, it is important to have a regular daily routine, set priorities, provide for buffer time periods and sufficient breaks, and divide your big target into smaller mini-targets. Plan to do unpleasant and strenuous tasks at times during the day when you are most productive. Put together a schedule, and display it clearly so you can keep an eye on everything, as this gives you security.

Don’t want to do it? Motivate yourself!

Reward yourself and look forward to completing tasks! Record all your achievements, no matter how small they are, in a work journal. Arrange to study or work together with others in the library, as this increases your motivation.

Be brave, you’ve got this.

“I’ll never be able to do it”: Thoughts like this only make you more anxious. Counter these unhelpful, demotivating thoughts. Remind yourself of what you can do. Thoughts like “I’ve already done other things like this in the past” can take away some of the fears. Sometimes it helps to think of something as just a means to an end and that it’s all about sticking it out to achieve a higher goal.

Just do it.

Don’t wait for the “right” or “perfect” time to start. There is no such thing. Set yourself a start time and keep to it! Performing a little ritual at the beginning of your working period can help you. For example, make a coffee and then sit down at your desk and get going.

Make your workplace- a good place to work.

If your workplace is a space where you feel comfortable and undisturbed, then you can study and write in a motivated and efficient manner.

Or go to the university library or the one in your faculty for a change. You’ll usually find here that the atmosphere for studying and working is different. A change of location can work wonders too. You may even meet other students you know with whom you can exchange ideas or go for a coffee break.

Procrastinating and postponing – there’s a big difference.

There may in fact be good reasons for deferring the completion of a task, such as leaving it until the next day. Sometimes other things are more important. And sometimes it’s better to do something nice at the end of the day. However, it is important that you allow yourself to do this and consciously enjoy it! This means you can get to work with renewed vigor the next day!

You may be thinking “I can’t do it all by myself.” Procrastination can also become a problem that you can’t solve on your own.

If you are putting off practically everything and this is already negatively impacting on your studies or your daily life and affecting your well-being, then you can and should seek help. For example, the Mental Health Services for Students offers a course on this topic (only in German) or you can get help by booking an individual counseling session.

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