How to Overcome Procrastination

Have you found yourself saying, “I have plenty of time, I don’t need to start that yet. I’m sure it will work out no matter what.” Or possibly, “What happens if I fail? I’ll never be able to finish it. I don’t even know how to start.” All these thoughts spin in our heads and we find ourselves procrastinating. The more we procrastinate on a task, the larger the task seems and the harder it is to get started.

Sometimes we procrastinate because the project or task seems so big, we don’t even know where to start. Breaking the task into small, realistic steps can help remove the anxiety that overwhelms us and keeps us from getting started. You wouldn’t try to eat a whole meal in one bite! There is always a first step.  Find your first step, no matter how simple, and just get started!

For example, you are working on your English course and you come across your next assignment, AN ESSAY! Gasp! The task seems too big to start and the temptation to procrastinate is growing strong. Stop, breathe, and just focus on the first step not the entire Essay.

The first step is understanding your assignment by reading the instructions! Yay! You did it! Congratulations, you just started and are on your way to finishing the task! It works for any task, like household chores or getting out the door in the morning. Have you ever tried putting pants on two legs at a time? Well, don’t! One leg at a time.  Find that first step and just get started!

Tomorrow never comes, stop thinking you’ll get it done tomorrow. Start today! You’ll be incredibly happy you did.

The “Step by Step” Method to Writing an Essay:

Step 1: Understand Your Assignment

You’ve heard these three words uttered time and time again by probably every teacher you have had: Read the directions!!! We know we’ve beleaguered the point, but it’s the most important first step to any assignment. Take the time to read the instructions beginning to end, and if you have questions – ask! This way you are prepared before you even begin to write.

Step 2: Read the Assignment Rubric

This is similar to the first step but contains more of the nuts and bolts of your essay. An understanding of the Rubric will give you the tools to craft the essay in a way that satisfies the requirements of the teacher. You can have great writing but still miss out on points for not following the rubric so be sure to be familiar with it!

Step 3: Find a Topic

Now that you have an understanding of the guidelines of your essay, it’s time to pick a topic! Be sure to lean on the instructions and rubric that you have already become familiar with so that you make sure your topic is appropriate to the assignment.

Step 4: Create a Thesis

A thesis is the main controlling idea of your essay – it takes your topic and brings it to a particular focus.

Step 5: Research and Find Sources

Now take your topic and thesis and do some research that will help you support the claims your essay is trying to make or the theme it is attempting to explore. Be sure to use sources that are reliable and academically acceptable (Peer reviewed study: great! Instagram Post: not so great.)

Step 6: Take Notes from Research

As you are doing research, take detailed notes. Looking back at these notes will help you decipher common themes and will be key in creating the flow of your essay.

Step 7: Create an Outline

Once you’ve done a fair amount of research and have a clearer idea of the topics you want to cover to support your thesis, it’s time to build an outline. Be sure to look to the rubric to refresh your memory on the breakdown of the paper – from there you can input the themes you’ve found through your research into specific sections. You don’t have to get too lengthy when it comes to an outline – bullet points will do.

Step 8: Start a Draft

The time has finally come to begin writing! From the previous step, this will be pretty easy. Take your bullet point and build them out into sentences and paragraphs. All the research you did in step 6 will come in handy here!

Step 9: Revise and Edit

Now that you have a first draft, take the time to read it start to finish. This is the time to look for any grammatical or spelling errors and check to make sure that your writing makes sense. It will be helpful to have the rubric and directions near by while you are reading through what you have, you can even check off things on the rubric as you come across them in your essay to make sure you have everything you need. Feel free have others read your draft as well! A fresh set of eyes is always helpful when it comes to spotting areas that need revising – remember your CalPac teachers are here to help!

Step 10: Pat yourself on the back and be proud you finished!

You’ve done it! By following these steps you’ve got yourself a completed essay that is ready for submission.

Putting the “Step by Step” Method Into Practice in Other Areas of Your Life:

Did you notice how each step in the essay writing process depended on the last step? It’s important to take things one step at a time and give you focus and attention to each step of the process. If you rush through or skip over something, it can have a ripple effect on the whole process.

The step by step method isn’t reserved for essay writing only – it can be applied to a number of things in your life! The most important “step” is getting started. Once you know where to begin, the next step will follow, and so on.

Don’t be afraid to take the plunge and get started on something today!

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