stick figure juggling

Feeling overwhelmed?

  • Keep your studying "bite-sized". When confronted with 150 pages of reading or 50 problems to solve, you may understandably feel overwhelmed. What if you decide that you will read for 45 minutes, or that you will solve ten problems? That sounds much more manageable. 
  • Remember: You're not failing. You're discovering what doesn't work. Try a different approach.
stick figure talking on cell phone

Distracted?

  • Turn off your phone, close your chat windows, and block distracting websites. The best advice we've ever heard is to treat your studying as if you're in a movie theater—just turn it off!
  • Find a place to study that is most conducive to your learning. You may need to find a quiet space without distraction.
stick figure sitting, writing a checklist

Check!

  • Use checklists. Make your incremental accomplishments visible. Some people get great satisfaction and motivation from checking items off a "to do" list. Be very specific when creating this list, and clearly describe each task one step at a time.
  • Then, reward yourself! How many checkmarks do you need to earn a reward? For example, if you read for 40 minutes and can check off that item, then you can check your phone for 5 minutes. But keep in mind that reward-based systems only work if you stick to a code of self-honor.

Learn more about procrastination and motivation on the Student Academic Success Center web site. 

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