CONQUERING THE URGE TO PROCRASTINATE It’s human nature to procrastinate, so when you’re faced with a difficult assignment, break it into small sub-tasks. Let’s say that in six weeks you will have to lead a class discussion of a supplemental book in your economics class. You do nothing for the first two or three weeks. By then, you must read too quickly to thoroughly understand the book. Anxiety builds, as you worry about composing thoughtful questions and being able to lead a discussion effectively.
It would have been better to divide this long-term assignment into smaller tasks, with reasonable blocks of time to complete each one. For example, schedule an equivalent number of chapters to be read for Weeks 1 through 4; then reserve time in Week 5 to compose your discussion questions. Smaller tasks are easier to manage, and as you complete each one, you feel satisfied.
As soon as a paper is assigned, break the task into small steps, and set reasonable deadlines for each one. You can avoid procrastination with sensible planning, so that writing a paper or reading an additional book won’t overwhelm you.
