How to keep yourself from procrastinating when studying...

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

Hey everyone!

So one of the problems I have right now is procrastinating/mind wandering when I am studying for the SAT. I can’t imagine how much I will get done when school starts again in September, when I hardly get anything done now. Plus, next year my courses are going to be rather vigorous and tough.
In an effort to try to improve my habits, I want to know how you keep yourself on track. How do you keep working without being distracted?

Thanks.

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Why do you procrastinate?

How do you procrastinate?

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@RiceEater108 I also have this same problem, but instead of with the SAT it’s with test-outs during this Summer. However, I feel as though I could contribute some common ways that I procrastinate and maybe some of them will correlate to how the OP procrastinates. First of all, this infamous site called www.collegeconfidential.com hooks me and urges me into reading various threads–“Harvard official RD acceptance 2019”, “How to get a perfect score on the ACT/SAT?”–until I have wasted a minimum of 1 hour of my study time. To explain, I commonly study with my laptop open and ready, just in case I have any questions on anything that I’m studying. Secondly, while studying it’s easy for me to get distracted by my phone or pretty much any other thing around me that strikes my interest. Lastly, I frequently get in the mindset of: “Hey, it’s Summer, studying doesn’t take that long, I’ll have time for it later tonight,” or tomorrow morning, or any other time but current time, but you get the point. Although, one thing that I can contribute to thread is the simple act of scheduling your studying ahead of time. Set aside an hour to 4 (depending on whether or not you’re taking a practice test) and isolate yourself from technology and bothersome people so you can focus on what you need to get done. I recommend visiting a local library or have a certain spot that you come to every time to study. Yet, as I am typing on this thread, I’m currently performing act #1 of my procrastination list, as I am supposed to be studying for Pre-Calc, oh the irony.

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Do not play clash of clans lol.

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How to stop procrastinating and be more productive:

  1. Get rid of all distractions
    *Block all sites using the Chrome and Safari extension “WasteNoTime.” Do this immediately when you get home or when you feel like you are wasting a lot of time. A lot of you guys seem to be getting distracted by websites and chain reading articles (me too). This wastes a huge amount of time. Put only necessary sites on the “allow list.”
    *Turn off your phone and give it to your parents or hide it somewhere that is hard to reach.
    *Put this quote on a notecard and attach it to a wall in front of your study: “Stick to what’s in front of you - idea, action, utterance.” - Marcus Aurelius. This quote will serve as a constant reminder to focus on what you do and not think about unnecessary things. Also Aurelius is cool because he was the most powerful emperor in the world during his time.
  • If you are distracted because you are hungry, eat. If you are distracted because you are sleepy, take a nap. Common Sense.
  1. Focus on only one task and put all your effort into it. Don’t let your mind wander, the task that is in front of you is the most important thing in the world. Again keep the Aurelius quote as a constant reminder and you will soon internalize it.
  2. Write a to-do list. Do it on a notecard, not on any fancy app. Finish the to-do list every day. The satisfaction you get once you finish all your tasks and rip up the notecard is awesome.
  3. Stay seated and don’t get up every 5 minutes.
  4. Don’t waste too much time on one thing. If you are stuck, ask for help.
  5. This might help you: Listen to the same song over and over again. Blocks out all outside noises and elevates you to a higher state.

When I follow this strategy, I am very productive. However on the days that I don’t follow through on this strategy, I am unhappy, stressed, and very unproductive.

In reality, it all comes down to you and how much you can control your mind. You may read thousands of online articles and books on how to be more productive, but if you cannot follow through on the steps, all the knowledge will take you nowhere. Realize that when you procrastinate, you are breaking a promise to yourself. A promise that you will work hard that day and achieve what you set out to achieve.

If you follow this strategy, it will become a habit after some time and you will automatically be more productive. I’m still working on this though.

So yeah, hopefully all of us succeed on the SAT and next school year (Junior year for me lol).

Please add to the list of strategies that have helped you become more efficient

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Great tips! And I’m relieved that I’m not the only one. It seems like so many people on College Confidential are secret geniuses… 2000+ on the SAT, extremely diligent, strict workers…
I usually end up on YouTube. It’s so addicting. Sometimes I wonder if I should somehow block the site altogether. But then some of my online courses require me to watch/upload YouTube videos.

It’s so hard to grasp self control.