- Start reading now, or flip through the chapter to get a sense of what you'll be reading later. Either way, you'll save time later. You may be amazed how much studying you can get done during downtimes throughout the day.
- • your momentum. Prevent distractions, such as multitasking, that will only slow you • your momentum. Prevent distractions, such as multitasking, that will only slow you down. Check for messages, for example, only at scheduled break times.
- • yourself. It's not easy to sit still for hours of studying. When you successfully • yourself. It's not easy to sit still for hours of studying. When you successfully complete the task, you should feel good and deserve a small reward. A healthy snack, a quick video game session, or social activity can help you feel even better about your successful use of time.
- • say no. Always tell others nearby when you're studying, to reduce the chances of • say no. Always tell others nearby when you're studying, to reduce the chances of being interrupted. Still, interruptions happen, and if you are frequently interrupted by a friend, it helps to have your 'no' prepared in advance: 'No, I really have to be ready for this test' or 'That's a great idea, but let's do it tomorrow- I just can't today.' You shouldn't feel bad about saying no - especially if you told that person in advance that you needed to study.
- • a life. Never schedule your day or week so full of work and study that you have no • a life. Never schedule your day or week so full of work and study that you have no time at all for yourself, your family and friends, and your larger life.
- • a calendar planner and daily to-do list. Welooked at these time management tools • a calendar planner and daily to-do list. Welooked at these time management tools in the previous section.

### Controlling Procrastination

Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something. Often, procrastinators think, 'I can just do it later,' even if it should be done now. For example, a college student may think, 'I should be working on my paper, but I'll just hang out with my friends for a little bit and work on it later.' It allows you to rationalize not doing your work at a specific time. Some people battle it daily, others only occasionally. With poor time management skills procrastination can threaten one's ability to do well on an assignment or test. There are multiple reasons why people procrastinate. Some people are too relaxed in their priorities, seldom worry, and easily put off responsibilities. Others worry constantly, and that stress keeps them from focusing on the task at hand. Some procrastinate because they fear failure; others procrastinate because they fear success or are perfectionists. Some are dreamers. Many different factors are involved, and there are different styles of procrastinating. The different types of procrastination have different solutions. Good time management strategies described previously in the chapter can help you avoid procrastination. Because this is a psychological issue - a way of thinking - some additional psychological strategies can also help:

- • procrastination is usually a habit, accept that and work on breaking it as you would • procrastination is usually a habit, accept that and work on breaking it as you would any other bad habit: one day at a time. Every time you overcome feelings of procrastination, the habit becomes weaker -and eventually you'll have a new habit of being able to start studying right away.
- • noted earlier, schedule times for studying using a daily or weekly planner. Carry it with • noted earlier, schedule times for studying using a daily or weekly planner. Carry it with you and look at it often. Just being aware of the time and what you need to do today can help you get organized and stay on track.
- • you keep thinking of something else you might forget to do later (making you feel like • you keep thinking of something else you might forget to do later (making you feel like you 'must' do it now), write yourself a note about it for later and get it out of your mind.