Increasing Motivation and Limiting Procrastination

Motivation

Definition: stimulate interest in; cause to act in a particular way
Myth: "Motivation will magically appear and then I'll feel like doing it."
Reality: Action builds the desire to do more.

Procrastination

Definition: to defer action, due to intentional choice or difficulty in starting.
Myth: "I work better under pressure"
Reality: They only work under pressure, and it increases their stress level.

Quick Tips to Balance the competing forces:

1. Set realistic goals: break large projects into smaller steps. See the Time Management Matrix for strategies on prioritizing goals and activities.

2. Think about how the current activity fits in with your long-term plan, to help prioritize. Visit Career Services if your courses and goals really don't align.

3. Engage: Act as if the topic or activity interests you. Discuss 1 idea after class with a friend. Put equal time and effort into activities of similar priority.

4. Use the Pleasure-Pain Principle to evaluate the costs of doing or avoiding something. Make a choice, and accept the consequence.

5. Create a Weekly Schedule or To Do list that includes time for exercise, social activity, and relaxation after you've worked. Or use a daily List of Accomplishments to record your positive activity.

6. To "kick start" work, use the "5 More Rule". Commit to 5 minutes, or 5 pages of reading, or 5 sentences to write; just do it √; ask yourself "5 more? Stop now?"

7. Hang out, or form study groups, with motivated and engaged students.

8. Turn up the pressure, by setting several small deadlines to finish before the due date.

9. Watch for the "downward spiral" of falling behind, missing class, getting discouraged. Talk to your professor, TA, learning strategist, or friend for help.

10. Remove distractions, rather than fight temptation.

11. Try one strategy described on the Manufacturing Motivation page.

 

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