Procrastination. We’re all guilty of it. Just when you need to concentrate and get something done, you go off in a completely different direction. It could be browsing the internet, or checking your email. Both can be productive, at the right time. Perhaps you have a project due the next day that could make-or-break your grade. Instead of buckling down and working on that French essay, people have a tendency to want to do something, anything, instead.

Breaking this habit is essential. If your trying to get work done, minimize distractions. Getting away from the computer is key. You will fail a test if you try and study in front of one. Applications like Quizlet are useful, but opening a new tab in your web browser is just to easy. Instead, make old-school flashcards. The process of making them cements facts into memory and is worth the extra effort. Print out your notes. You remember things better if you have a physical copy to look at.

Even away from the computer, there are plenty of distractions. It’s common to find yourself working on a project that you’ve been putting off for weeks when the deadline for another is fast approaching. The night before making a presentation is no time to reorganize your shoe-box.

The library is a good place to work, as is a friends house. At a friends house, you can easily get off topic. Don’t be afraid to take breaks. Just don’t take them all the time. Procrastination is a hard thing to conquer. Don’t let it conquer you.