We all do it, and we all know we shouldn’t. The biggest danger of procrastinating for your SAT is not not studying – test examines what you’ve already learnt, so you have the knowledge you need. The danger of procrastination is letting yourself slip into a panic that will cause you to forget what you were taught in school. Below are 6 tips to help you beat the cycle of procrastination and go into your exam feeling confident.
- Identify why you procrastinate. The most common reasons are self-doubt (you fear you will fail), avoiding discomfort (studying makes you stressed, so you avoid it to feel better), running away from guilt (you feel guilty for not doing what you should, but instead of facing it, you hide), and long term bad habits (you’ve procrastinated before without consequence and now you can’t stop!)
- Create a study schedule. Write a list of all the tasks you must go, then prioritize them by how long it will take you to accomplish them – if you aren’t sure, overestimate. Get a big calendar and write out your daily tasks working backwards from the test date. Having a physical reminder of what needs to be done each day will help keep you on track
- Reward yourself! Rewards motivate by giving you something to look forward to at the completion of a task, so figure out what you want. Is it eating your favourite candy bar? Or buying that bracelet you had your eye on?
- Deal with anxiety. There is no question that preparing for a big exam can make you anxious, but there are better ways to deal with anxiety then avoiding it. When yourself getting overwhelmed try this: breath deepy in through your nose for 5 counts, then exhale slowly through your mouth for 5 counts. Repeat this ten times, then refocus and get back to work!
- Use mental motivation cheat. Start each session by doing several little tasks and crossing them off your study calendar when they are completed. The tasks left may take longer, but you mind will think you’ve accomplished the majority of your work and give you a physiological boost.
- Commit to the task. Take a moment out loud to renew your commitment to your task each and every time you find yourself procrastinating. By verbalizing your commitment you will refocus on mind on the task at hand as well as feel stronger about completing your goals.
Are you ready to commit to doing your best on the SAT? Take practice test right now.