"Any time you feel overwhelmed, there's a good chance that the culprit is a lack of clear priorities." - Darren Hardy in Entrepreneur Roller Coaster
Is college your priority?
Before you answer yes, think about it for a moment.
Look at your calendar. Where are you spending most of your time outside of class?
College, especially community college, requires you to focus most of your time and energy on being successful in that environment, which requires so much more than just going to class and going home. My blog and book are overflowing with these "other" things to help you be successful in and after college, but none of it will do you much good if you haven't decided to give this college experience your all.
I have yet to meet a single successful community college graduate who didn't give the experience their all - no matter what very real barriers or constraints they had in their way. They just decided this would be their priority and then they focused all their energy towards that goal.
While it would be nice to just do college on the side, it often doesn't work that way. It requires a lot of you. But the good news is that the people who give their all to their community college experience also tend to be the people who are having the most fun.
Think about your schedule and your current priorities. Is there something you know you should be doing on campus that you haven't done yet (e.g. meeting a professor, going to the tutoring center, checking out a club, going to the career center)? Is there something you are doing too much of that's getting in the way of you really making college your priority right now?
College costs money and you are a good investment, but only if you actually invest yourself into this experience wholeheartedly. Is this your priority? What dreams will getting this degree help you accomplish? Write out your thoughts and think seriously about a change you can make to ensure college is really a priority.
Because if a college degree is something you want, then it must be.
If you find you're having trouble with this, sit down with a career advisor, academic advisor, or trusted professor/mentor ASAP and talk about your current goals and priorities and ask for advice. Sometimes the best thing we can do to re-prioritize is just talk it out and ask for feedback.
You can do this!
"Lack of direction, not lack of time is the problem. We all have 24 hour days." - Zig Ziglar
Showing posts with label Procrastination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Procrastination. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
The Secret to Being an A-Student
Spend most of your time doing A-student activities.
Duh.
But seriously, what percentage of your time are you spending on A-student activities, such as:
Writing an essay
Editing an essay
Reading a textbook
Reviewing a textbook
Reviewing notes
Getting to class early
Meeting with a professor
Going to the tutoring center
Studying with friends
Putting together a study group
Reading about college success on a blog or book
Asking advice from a good student
Asking advice from someone who has a job or a life you'd like one day
Asking advice from a professor
I read lots of books over the winter break, and this year there was one concept that stood out above the rest (it kind of reminded me of those weird grainy pictures in the 90s that you held your eyes up to for 60 seconds and then, when you slowly backed away, you could see a 3D image of dolphins and such...this was a thing, I swear. I'm not crazy.)
The concept? FOCUS. Figure out what you want, and then focus the MAJORITY of your time and energy on that thing.
So simple and yet so difficult. Why? Because we have so much going on. I KNOW you have so much going on. I taught a College Success class last semester and my students had so much going on.
But unfortunately you don't get As for trying.
You get As for dedicating the majority of your time to your goal.
Maybe your goal isn't As? Maybe it's just learning. Doing well? Graduating college? Getting a certain job. Getting OUT of a certain job. Excellent! Wonderful! Getting As doesn't actually have to be your goal. I don't decide your goals, you get to do that.
But I imagine you would like to get better grades (and graduate college successfully) or you wouldn't be reading this, so keeping that in mind, here is what I want you to try (and you can do this with any other goal as well):
Download a stopwatch app on your phone and set it every time you start one of the A-student activities above (or any activity that moves you closer to your goal, either directly (e.g. studying) or indirectly (e.g. reading a book about how to succeed in college)).
Just time yourself (don't judge yourself). It won't be fun, I hate tracking things like this, but I know it works so I force myself to do it any way.
If you don't want to track in real time, just consider how much time you spent on the activities above, on average, during any given week last semester.
Notice how much time you're spending on college outside of class. If getting good grades and graduating successfully is a priority for you (and it must be if you're going to make it) then you should be spending more time doing this than almost anything else in your life.
There's no magic percentage, but I'd say shoot for spending 51% or more of your waking hours doing activities that move you towards your top goal (do sleep; please, sleep).
If you find you're not spending the majority of your waking hours on your top goal, find a way to change that. Easier said than done, I know. But vital. Don't skip this.
College isn't something that works well on the side. To do it well in this competitive world, it must be a full time job, a real priority. That might mean you have to have two proverbial full time jobs. If that's you, hats off to you. I've seen it done, but only by the most dedicated people I've ever seen. So keep that in mind.
Just because college must be a full time job doesn't literally mean you have to go full time, as I know many of you have work obligations and family obligations that make four to five classes plus study time unrealistic for you (but if you can make it happen I do recommend it).
Just do not make the mistake of ONLY making time in your calendar for the time listed on your official class schedule. College should never only show up in your calendar as "MWF 9am-9:50am."
You can't just make time for class.
(You don't have a calendar or planner you say? Get one! Seriously. Please. Do it for me. Just kidding; do it for you. Your beautiful brain needs to be free to study - do not make it hold onto all your important dates and reminders and tasks. Google Calendar and Asana are my personal favorite productivity tools.)
If you can't also schedule two hours of study time each week (time where you can be alone and FULLY focused on school) for every hour you have in your official class schedule then chances are it will be very difficult for you to get the grades you are actually capable of.
Consider how you've spent your time so far in college (or in high school if you are just about to start college for the first time). Don't judge yourself. Just think about it. Ponder. What percentage of time, would you guess, are you really spending on your goal? And then journal. Finish the following sentences:
I'm going to college because...
I want to get good grades in college because...
College is my priority because...
To improve my grades, I need to spend more time...
To free up more time, I need to stop...
Before you make any changes, consider WHY college is important to you at all. Almost no one cares about the physical piece of paper you get when you graduate or a letter grade. But we DO care about things like providing for our family, learning, growing, achieving, helping people, etc. WHY are you doing this? Write that down somewhere and post it where you can read it every morning.
Then, focus the majority of your time and energy on that. Work at it every day, not for the grade itself, but for your overall, personal reason for being in college, whatever that may be. You must have such a reason, because no one wants to spend a majority of their time on something that doesn't connect to something that truly matters to them in their personal life.
To succeed in college you must focus on building your skills, growing, and becoming better. For some of you that may be a goal in and of itself, and that's great! But if it's not, then figure out your real reason. Maybe it's for your 6-year-old son. Maybe it's to qualify for your dream job. Maybe it's so you never work in retail another day in your life. Maybe it's so you can have opportunities to pay it forward to those who sacrificed so much so that you could go to college.
Those are all real reasons I've heard before. I've heard many - all different, all beautiful. The only thing that's been the same is the passion and energy behind the reason. When they tell you, you can feel the fire in their eyes. You can see the time. The energy. The hard work. The dedication. The persistence. It's THEIR reason. THEIR dream. And they're not going to give up.
What's your reason? The reason that will make spending more than half of your time on college worth it to you? Maybe even fun. The reason that will keep you getting up after every time you fall. The reason that will help you say, after each failure, "what other strategy can I try" instead of "I give up."
Figure out your reason for getting good grades, your reason for going to college. YOUR reason. Write it. Swim in it. Read it every day. And then let it motivate you to spend the majority of your time focusing on your goal.
I've seen tremendous community college success stories. I've also seen and read about the failures. I don't consider the people failures. But they weren't able to reach their goal. They had barriers, for sure, but so have those who have succeeded, sometimes many more. What's the difference?
Here is what I've learned:
The lower you start on the ladder of power and privilege, the more you have to really want a college degree in order for it to become a reality. You have to be hungry. Really hungry.
It's not fair. But it's the reality as I see it today. And my ultimate goal with this blog is not to tell you how the system should be, but to help you thrive in whatever it happens to be today, however imperfect.
Community college only works if you really want it.
Community college is an incredible opportunity. But it won't "happen" to you just by walking on campus. Community college is a stage, ready for you to play, to imagine, to dream, and to work. You are the actor. The main event.
You can also think of community college as a field. You are the player. And you don't become a great athlete by standing on a pitchers mound. You have to pitch. Often. You have to practice. You have to play the game. Over and over. And you can't do it alone.
You can't just sign up for community college classes and hope to be a college graduate.
It requires so much more.
But here's the thing. I think you can do it. How do I know? You read this entire article. You've got what it takes.
Do you want this? Really want this? Awesome. Now just put your time where your mouth is. (Wait, that sounds weird. Don't eat a clock. Just, ugh, you know what I'm trying to say.) ;)
Duh.
But seriously, what percentage of your time are you spending on A-student activities, such as:
Writing an essay
Editing an essay
Reading a textbook
Reviewing a textbook
Reviewing notes
Getting to class early
Meeting with a professor
Going to the tutoring center
Studying with friends
Putting together a study group
Reading about college success on a blog or book
Asking advice from a good student
Asking advice from someone who has a job or a life you'd like one day
Asking advice from a professor
I read lots of books over the winter break, and this year there was one concept that stood out above the rest (it kind of reminded me of those weird grainy pictures in the 90s that you held your eyes up to for 60 seconds and then, when you slowly backed away, you could see a 3D image of dolphins and such...this was a thing, I swear. I'm not crazy.)
The concept? FOCUS. Figure out what you want, and then focus the MAJORITY of your time and energy on that thing.
So simple and yet so difficult. Why? Because we have so much going on. I KNOW you have so much going on. I taught a College Success class last semester and my students had so much going on.But unfortunately you don't get As for trying.
You get As for dedicating the majority of your time to your goal.
Maybe your goal isn't As? Maybe it's just learning. Doing well? Graduating college? Getting a certain job. Getting OUT of a certain job. Excellent! Wonderful! Getting As doesn't actually have to be your goal. I don't decide your goals, you get to do that.
But I imagine you would like to get better grades (and graduate college successfully) or you wouldn't be reading this, so keeping that in mind, here is what I want you to try (and you can do this with any other goal as well):
Download a stopwatch app on your phone and set it every time you start one of the A-student activities above (or any activity that moves you closer to your goal, either directly (e.g. studying) or indirectly (e.g. reading a book about how to succeed in college)).
Just time yourself (don't judge yourself). It won't be fun, I hate tracking things like this, but I know it works so I force myself to do it any way.
If you don't want to track in real time, just consider how much time you spent on the activities above, on average, during any given week last semester.
Notice how much time you're spending on college outside of class. If getting good grades and graduating successfully is a priority for you (and it must be if you're going to make it) then you should be spending more time doing this than almost anything else in your life.
There's no magic percentage, but I'd say shoot for spending 51% or more of your waking hours doing activities that move you towards your top goal (do sleep; please, sleep).
If you find you're not spending the majority of your waking hours on your top goal, find a way to change that. Easier said than done, I know. But vital. Don't skip this.
College isn't something that works well on the side. To do it well in this competitive world, it must be a full time job, a real priority. That might mean you have to have two proverbial full time jobs. If that's you, hats off to you. I've seen it done, but only by the most dedicated people I've ever seen. So keep that in mind.
Just because college must be a full time job doesn't literally mean you have to go full time, as I know many of you have work obligations and family obligations that make four to five classes plus study time unrealistic for you (but if you can make it happen I do recommend it).
Just do not make the mistake of ONLY making time in your calendar for the time listed on your official class schedule. College should never only show up in your calendar as "MWF 9am-9:50am."
You can't just make time for class.
(You don't have a calendar or planner you say? Get one! Seriously. Please. Do it for me. Just kidding; do it for you. Your beautiful brain needs to be free to study - do not make it hold onto all your important dates and reminders and tasks. Google Calendar and Asana are my personal favorite productivity tools.)
If you can't also schedule two hours of study time each week (time where you can be alone and FULLY focused on school) for every hour you have in your official class schedule then chances are it will be very difficult for you to get the grades you are actually capable of.
Consider how you've spent your time so far in college (or in high school if you are just about to start college for the first time). Don't judge yourself. Just think about it. Ponder. What percentage of time, would you guess, are you really spending on your goal? And then journal. Finish the following sentences:
I'm going to college because...
I want to get good grades in college because...
College is my priority because...
To improve my grades, I need to spend more time...
To free up more time, I need to stop...
Before you make any changes, consider WHY college is important to you at all. Almost no one cares about the physical piece of paper you get when you graduate or a letter grade. But we DO care about things like providing for our family, learning, growing, achieving, helping people, etc. WHY are you doing this? Write that down somewhere and post it where you can read it every morning.
Then, focus the majority of your time and energy on that. Work at it every day, not for the grade itself, but for your overall, personal reason for being in college, whatever that may be. You must have such a reason, because no one wants to spend a majority of their time on something that doesn't connect to something that truly matters to them in their personal life.
To succeed in college you must focus on building your skills, growing, and becoming better. For some of you that may be a goal in and of itself, and that's great! But if it's not, then figure out your real reason. Maybe it's for your 6-year-old son. Maybe it's to qualify for your dream job. Maybe it's so you never work in retail another day in your life. Maybe it's so you can have opportunities to pay it forward to those who sacrificed so much so that you could go to college.
Those are all real reasons I've heard before. I've heard many - all different, all beautiful. The only thing that's been the same is the passion and energy behind the reason. When they tell you, you can feel the fire in their eyes. You can see the time. The energy. The hard work. The dedication. The persistence. It's THEIR reason. THEIR dream. And they're not going to give up.
What's your reason? The reason that will make spending more than half of your time on college worth it to you? Maybe even fun. The reason that will keep you getting up after every time you fall. The reason that will help you say, after each failure, "what other strategy can I try" instead of "I give up."
Figure out your reason for getting good grades, your reason for going to college. YOUR reason. Write it. Swim in it. Read it every day. And then let it motivate you to spend the majority of your time focusing on your goal.
I've seen tremendous community college success stories. I've also seen and read about the failures. I don't consider the people failures. But they weren't able to reach their goal. They had barriers, for sure, but so have those who have succeeded, sometimes many more. What's the difference?
Here is what I've learned:
The lower you start on the ladder of power and privilege, the more you have to really want a college degree in order for it to become a reality. You have to be hungry. Really hungry.
It's not fair. But it's the reality as I see it today. And my ultimate goal with this blog is not to tell you how the system should be, but to help you thrive in whatever it happens to be today, however imperfect.
Community college only works if you really want it.
Community college is an incredible opportunity. But it won't "happen" to you just by walking on campus. Community college is a stage, ready for you to play, to imagine, to dream, and to work. You are the actor. The main event.
You can also think of community college as a field. You are the player. And you don't become a great athlete by standing on a pitchers mound. You have to pitch. Often. You have to practice. You have to play the game. Over and over. And you can't do it alone.
You can't just sign up for community college classes and hope to be a college graduate.
It requires so much more.
But here's the thing. I think you can do it. How do I know? You read this entire article. You've got what it takes.
Do you want this? Really want this? Awesome. Now just put your time where your mouth is. (Wait, that sounds weird. Don't eat a clock. Just, ugh, you know what I'm trying to say.) ;)
Thursday, December 11, 2014
15 things I do that keep procrastination away
A student recently asked me the following:
I absolutely adore your blog, and your advice for college success is incredibly helpful. I get inspired in a new way every time I visit your blog. Since you're the master non-procrastinator, and I'm a huge procrastinator, I was wondering if you could explain your work habits involving school. Just general things like how much homework/studying you did a day, the way you scheduled/prioritized work, school work habits...
You touch a lot on how to stop procrastinating, but I find myself most inspired when someone who never procrastinates explains their own habits and methods, so I was insanely curious to see how you stay on top of everything, and even get ahead sometimes!
I never thought of sharing some of my personal habits, but since a student has said she would find it helpful, I thought I'd go ahead and share.
Keep in mind these are the habits that have worked for me over the years, both in school and in work. It doesn't mean they are the only ways. I'm always reading about ways to be more effective, and I've ready plenty of strategies that work for some people but when I tried them they didn't work for me. Try stuff out and keep what works for you.
How do you know if something is working for you? You kind of feel it in your gut, but also, you know it's working when you're getting the results you want without sacrificing your priorities (e.g. you could be a productive workaholic with straight-A's but be stressed, unhealthy, and not have good relationships).
The goal is to use your time strategically to reach your most important goals.
So here we go - let me share with you the habits I've used over the years to get straight A's, get a graduate degree while working full time and writing my first book, and working from home, all while not procrastinating and never turning in an assignment late.
But before I do, I'd like to make a list of things I'm terrible at so you don't hate me for being so good at productivity. I promise there are also a lot of things I'm terrible at and struggle with. Here is a short list:
Things Isa is Terrible At (So You Don't Hate Her For Not Procrastinating)
1. I have a goldfish memory (sorry can repeat your sub order again? I heard you, but I already forgot)
2. I never could get pass level 3 of Donkey Kong
3. My best cooking skills involve a box of macaroni and cheese and cookie dough in little squares
4. Give me an instrument to play and you'll want to take it away immediately
5. I got a B in pottery
6. 4th graders draw better than me
7. I'm not funny in person and can never think of witty things to say or jokes or comebacks. I don't even think of them a day later. I just cant think of them. Ever. FUNNY PEOPLE HOW ARE YOU SO FUNNY?!?! I don't understand. It's awesome. Just be my friend please, that's all I ask.
Ok. So are we good now? You won't hate me, right? I have flaws. I hope some of my productivity habits can help you. And in return, if you'd like to tell me how you're so funny or how to make a clay pot that isn't droopy/sideways I'm all ears.
My Productivity Habits
1. Read books and blogs on effectiveness
I'm always reading. Like, always. And I've always weirdly loved books on effectiveness (I asked for 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens for Christmas...yeah...I was that kind of teenager). But honestly, that book made a huge difference in my life. Some of my other favorites over the years include: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Compound Effect, and How to Win at College. Cal Newport is also always writing about ways to get important stuff done - highly recommend his blog.
2. Do stuff that interests you
While I don't always feel motivated, most of my drive and energy comes from having goals and doing things that deeply interest me. I wanted to go to college because I loved learning. I loved class. I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do, but mostly, I loved the journey, the process. I also always picked classes that sounded really interesting. I do the same in my work life. There's some boring stuff along the way, but when the core is something that fascinates me, it makes the boring stuff so much easier to get through. The thought of procrastinating never even comes into question, because I'm actually excited to do the things I'm doing. I don't want to wait.
3. Technology is my friend
I had a palm pilot in college. Think, a to-do-list app on a smart phone that doesn't have wifi or make phone calls. In high school I just used a notebook and made little squares next to each thing that I would check off. I love checking stuff off. I loved my palm pilot because it allowed me to both check things off and more easily write and rearrange my list each day.
Now I use Asana and LOVE it. Google Calendar is also my best friend. Calendly is my personal assistant.
3. Write stuff down
As you now know, I have a bad memory. So I've always written everything down immediately: ideas, to-do's, due dates, etc. Now I just send myself emails on my phone or put a task I think of in my Asana app. In school, every due date and assignment would go directly from my professors mouth (or syllabus, or online course schedule) to my task list and Google calendar (with reminders).
4. Library time
When possible, I scheduled my classes with time in between to force myself to stay on campus and have time to join and contribute in a club.
Once this was a habit, I then scheduled my classes back to back in the middle of the day, and then drive the 30 minutes to campus to arrive by 8am and I would always stay until at least 4pm or 5pm Monday through Thursday. Any time I wasn't in class was spent in the library getting ahead. When everything was done (which happens a lot, the beauty of starting early, I'd use that time to hang out with friends on campus, visit a professor, or spend time doing work for a club).
5. ABC method
I learned this method in a College Success class my last semester of community college. It's a simple labeling method. "A" tasks are important and urgent. "B" task are important but not urgent. "C" tasks are not as important and not urgent. I have played around with how I decide to define ABC, but I do have an A, B, and C project bin in Asana. I also have a "Today" bin where I pull from A, B, and C to plan my day.
6. Planning time
When I'd sit down at the library (and the same goes for getting to my office or sitting down in my home office) I never jump straight into work. Never. The first thing I do before anything else is read my goals, think about my priorities, and then plan my day. While I don't plan every minute of my day, I start every day with clear intention and purpose, all based on my top priorities and goals.
7. Make motivation a priority
I don't always feel motivated, but I have learned what motivates me during slumps in energy and focus. Reading is a big one, especially non fiction and memoirs. Also any kind of art - plays, comedy, museums. Or a walk. I make resting, refreshing, and getting inspired a priority. I know it will pay off in the long run when it comes to having creative ideas and having the energy to do the hard stuff.
8. Rest
I don't work on Sundays or go out. It's a day to rest and recover, and it's essential. On a rare occasion where I have a conference or something I can tell a HUGE difference in my energy and performance the rest of the week. The day of rest is vital.
9. Write goals and dreams
I have a list of long term goals I read every morning. I used to put timelines on "big dreams" (like, "This is what I want to accomplish in 2013") but then when some of those things didn't happen I'd feel discouraged.
So I have this big running list of big dreams that makes me excited when I read it, but it's not attached to a timeline.
Then I focus on having short-term goals for each month that I can control (like a goal to read X number of books or write X number of blogs or reach out to X number of people - instead of "make X number of dollars," something, on some level, I can't directly control).
Focusing goals on what I can control has really helped, but still having big dreams that don't have a timeline I find to be very motivational and help guide my direction as I make decisions. I write them every December, but also adjust along the way. I also have a space to write in cool things that happened that I didn't plan but felt like dreams come true.
(On the top of the goal sheets I print and read every morning, I also tend to write mission statements or phrases that summarize what I want to contribute in my work - a guiding force. Lately it's been: "help people break cycles of poverty through education.")
10. Project priority list
Whenever I'm considering a new project, I have a list to help me think about my priorities. Some things on that list include, doing something I believe in, working with cool people, having flexibility, etc. I use it anytime I'm thinking of taking a new project or going in a new direction and my gut feeling isn't very clear.
11. Limit things
I've always focused on just a few things and guarded my time. I never joined every club. I preferred to just be president of one and then try to contribute something. I love feeling good about being successful in my school and work life, but I also highly value rest, relaxation, inspiration, and of course, quality time with people I love.
So when it comes to getting involved, course load, and time spent on work and extracurriculars, I always make sure my priorities are straight. If one of those things is lacking too much, I make an adjustment, even if it means saying no to something.
It's impossible to "manage" time when you don't have enough of it. Sometimes it's just about eliminating things, which may be obligations or involvements, but it can also mean time wasting things that are bringing much value to your life.
If success in a certain goal, especially a big one, is really important to you, then you will have to sacrifice some things. There was a commercial in the most recent Olympics that showcased athletes practicing their skills, with voiceovers of different versions of statements like this: "you know that hit TV show, I never saw it." This is an extreme example, but do remember that greatness in anything means focus, and focus means saying no to some things so you can say yes to the most important things (most important to you, that is).
12. An inspiring space
My walls are filled with collages (I make one every year, not a vision board, but just things that inspire me for the upcoming year), pictures of countries I hope to visit, handwritten and framed quotes, books I treasure, trinkets from trips (like my name tag from my Harvard interview), a wooden board I broke with my bare hands, a picture of my grandma, etc.
Both my offices are surrounded with very personal stuff that makes me feel alive, inspired to work. I keep things clean and orderly too, but not obsessively so, just so there's no distracting mess.
13. Morning routine
I've had a morning routine every since I was in 10th grade. It's evolved over the years, but it's always included some version of the following, as it does today: exercise, healthy breakfast, tea, reading something inspirational for at least 10 minutes, writing in a journal, reading my goals, planning my day.
14. Google reminders
I have to give Google Calendar and its SMS reminders (e.g. it sends reminders to my phone) it's own space here. This is my EVERYTHING when it comes to not missing deadlines and keeping on top of everything, especially now that my life includes travel, meetings, speeches, etc. Anytime I need to do something I set it in my calendar and set many SMS reminders. Set it and forget it! I love this.
15. Due dates are always the day before
I never plan to do something on the day it's due. Even in Google Calendar, I always mark a due date on the day before it's actually due. I never let myself know the "real" due date. I always plan to turn things in early.
I recently purposely procrastinated packing for a trip because of another priority - spending quality time with people I love. I had an opportunity to spend time with someone instead of packing the day before (something I usually do) and since I wasn't going to see that person for a while, I decided to spend time with them instead of packing early. It was worth it.
However, the next day was very stressful. I had just enough time for packing. That's the problem with procrastination. You leave just enough time. But we're not always good at knowing exactly how much time we'll need for something. And also - we can't predict what else might happen on that day. Turns out, my car had an issue and I had to take it to the mechanic before driving to the airport. Ack! Packing was done very quickly, I made it, but just barely.
The experience itself, though, was stressful. A stress I'm not used to, because I don't procrastinate especially so I can avoid this feeling. And here's what I realized:
When you procrastinate, your to-list owns you.
When you make a conscious effort to plan and prioritize, you own your schedule and your life. It feels pretty great. If planning makes you feel stressed than perhaps you haven't figured out what you really want, what you're really working for, or you're over-scheduling and planning in a way that makes you feel trapped. It shouldn't feel like you are owned by some schedule or list. It should feel like freedom and excitement and energy and joy.
That's when you know it's working for you.
I absolutely adore your blog, and your advice for college success is incredibly helpful. I get inspired in a new way every time I visit your blog. Since you're the master non-procrastinator, and I'm a huge procrastinator, I was wondering if you could explain your work habits involving school. Just general things like how much homework/studying you did a day, the way you scheduled/prioritized work, school work habits...
You touch a lot on how to stop procrastinating, but I find myself most inspired when someone who never procrastinates explains their own habits and methods, so I was insanely curious to see how you stay on top of everything, and even get ahead sometimes!
I never thought of sharing some of my personal habits, but since a student has said she would find it helpful, I thought I'd go ahead and share.
Keep in mind these are the habits that have worked for me over the years, both in school and in work. It doesn't mean they are the only ways. I'm always reading about ways to be more effective, and I've ready plenty of strategies that work for some people but when I tried them they didn't work for me. Try stuff out and keep what works for you.
How do you know if something is working for you? You kind of feel it in your gut, but also, you know it's working when you're getting the results you want without sacrificing your priorities (e.g. you could be a productive workaholic with straight-A's but be stressed, unhealthy, and not have good relationships).
The goal is to use your time strategically to reach your most important goals.
So here we go - let me share with you the habits I've used over the years to get straight A's, get a graduate degree while working full time and writing my first book, and working from home, all while not procrastinating and never turning in an assignment late.
But before I do, I'd like to make a list of things I'm terrible at so you don't hate me for being so good at productivity. I promise there are also a lot of things I'm terrible at and struggle with. Here is a short list:
Things Isa is Terrible At (So You Don't Hate Her For Not Procrastinating)
1. I have a goldfish memory (sorry can repeat your sub order again? I heard you, but I already forgot)
2. I never could get pass level 3 of Donkey Kong
3. My best cooking skills involve a box of macaroni and cheese and cookie dough in little squares
4. Give me an instrument to play and you'll want to take it away immediately
5. I got a B in pottery
6. 4th graders draw better than me
7. I'm not funny in person and can never think of witty things to say or jokes or comebacks. I don't even think of them a day later. I just cant think of them. Ever. FUNNY PEOPLE HOW ARE YOU SO FUNNY?!?! I don't understand. It's awesome. Just be my friend please, that's all I ask.
Ok. So are we good now? You won't hate me, right? I have flaws. I hope some of my productivity habits can help you. And in return, if you'd like to tell me how you're so funny or how to make a clay pot that isn't droopy/sideways I'm all ears.
My Productivity Habits
1. Read books and blogs on effectiveness
I'm always reading. Like, always. And I've always weirdly loved books on effectiveness (I asked for 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens for Christmas...yeah...I was that kind of teenager). But honestly, that book made a huge difference in my life. Some of my other favorites over the years include: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Compound Effect, and How to Win at College. Cal Newport is also always writing about ways to get important stuff done - highly recommend his blog.
2. Do stuff that interests you
While I don't always feel motivated, most of my drive and energy comes from having goals and doing things that deeply interest me. I wanted to go to college because I loved learning. I loved class. I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do, but mostly, I loved the journey, the process. I also always picked classes that sounded really interesting. I do the same in my work life. There's some boring stuff along the way, but when the core is something that fascinates me, it makes the boring stuff so much easier to get through. The thought of procrastinating never even comes into question, because I'm actually excited to do the things I'm doing. I don't want to wait.
3. Technology is my friend
I had a palm pilot in college. Think, a to-do-list app on a smart phone that doesn't have wifi or make phone calls. In high school I just used a notebook and made little squares next to each thing that I would check off. I love checking stuff off. I loved my palm pilot because it allowed me to both check things off and more easily write and rearrange my list each day.
Now I use Asana and LOVE it. Google Calendar is also my best friend. Calendly is my personal assistant.
3. Write stuff down
As you now know, I have a bad memory. So I've always written everything down immediately: ideas, to-do's, due dates, etc. Now I just send myself emails on my phone or put a task I think of in my Asana app. In school, every due date and assignment would go directly from my professors mouth (or syllabus, or online course schedule) to my task list and Google calendar (with reminders).
4. Library time
When possible, I scheduled my classes with time in between to force myself to stay on campus and have time to join and contribute in a club.
Once this was a habit, I then scheduled my classes back to back in the middle of the day, and then drive the 30 minutes to campus to arrive by 8am and I would always stay until at least 4pm or 5pm Monday through Thursday. Any time I wasn't in class was spent in the library getting ahead. When everything was done (which happens a lot, the beauty of starting early, I'd use that time to hang out with friends on campus, visit a professor, or spend time doing work for a club).
5. ABC method
I learned this method in a College Success class my last semester of community college. It's a simple labeling method. "A" tasks are important and urgent. "B" task are important but not urgent. "C" tasks are not as important and not urgent. I have played around with how I decide to define ABC, but I do have an A, B, and C project bin in Asana. I also have a "Today" bin where I pull from A, B, and C to plan my day.
6. Planning time
When I'd sit down at the library (and the same goes for getting to my office or sitting down in my home office) I never jump straight into work. Never. The first thing I do before anything else is read my goals, think about my priorities, and then plan my day. While I don't plan every minute of my day, I start every day with clear intention and purpose, all based on my top priorities and goals.
7. Make motivation a priority
I don't always feel motivated, but I have learned what motivates me during slumps in energy and focus. Reading is a big one, especially non fiction and memoirs. Also any kind of art - plays, comedy, museums. Or a walk. I make resting, refreshing, and getting inspired a priority. I know it will pay off in the long run when it comes to having creative ideas and having the energy to do the hard stuff.
8. Rest
I don't work on Sundays or go out. It's a day to rest and recover, and it's essential. On a rare occasion where I have a conference or something I can tell a HUGE difference in my energy and performance the rest of the week. The day of rest is vital.
9. Write goals and dreams
I have a list of long term goals I read every morning. I used to put timelines on "big dreams" (like, "This is what I want to accomplish in 2013") but then when some of those things didn't happen I'd feel discouraged.
So I have this big running list of big dreams that makes me excited when I read it, but it's not attached to a timeline.
Then I focus on having short-term goals for each month that I can control (like a goal to read X number of books or write X number of blogs or reach out to X number of people - instead of "make X number of dollars," something, on some level, I can't directly control).
Focusing goals on what I can control has really helped, but still having big dreams that don't have a timeline I find to be very motivational and help guide my direction as I make decisions. I write them every December, but also adjust along the way. I also have a space to write in cool things that happened that I didn't plan but felt like dreams come true.
(On the top of the goal sheets I print and read every morning, I also tend to write mission statements or phrases that summarize what I want to contribute in my work - a guiding force. Lately it's been: "help people break cycles of poverty through education.")
10. Project priority list
Whenever I'm considering a new project, I have a list to help me think about my priorities. Some things on that list include, doing something I believe in, working with cool people, having flexibility, etc. I use it anytime I'm thinking of taking a new project or going in a new direction and my gut feeling isn't very clear.
11. Limit things
I've always focused on just a few things and guarded my time. I never joined every club. I preferred to just be president of one and then try to contribute something. I love feeling good about being successful in my school and work life, but I also highly value rest, relaxation, inspiration, and of course, quality time with people I love.
So when it comes to getting involved, course load, and time spent on work and extracurriculars, I always make sure my priorities are straight. If one of those things is lacking too much, I make an adjustment, even if it means saying no to something.
It's impossible to "manage" time when you don't have enough of it. Sometimes it's just about eliminating things, which may be obligations or involvements, but it can also mean time wasting things that are bringing much value to your life.
If success in a certain goal, especially a big one, is really important to you, then you will have to sacrifice some things. There was a commercial in the most recent Olympics that showcased athletes practicing their skills, with voiceovers of different versions of statements like this: "you know that hit TV show, I never saw it." This is an extreme example, but do remember that greatness in anything means focus, and focus means saying no to some things so you can say yes to the most important things (most important to you, that is).
 |
| One of my inspirational pictures in my home office. |
12. An inspiring space
My walls are filled with collages (I make one every year, not a vision board, but just things that inspire me for the upcoming year), pictures of countries I hope to visit, handwritten and framed quotes, books I treasure, trinkets from trips (like my name tag from my Harvard interview), a wooden board I broke with my bare hands, a picture of my grandma, etc.
Both my offices are surrounded with very personal stuff that makes me feel alive, inspired to work. I keep things clean and orderly too, but not obsessively so, just so there's no distracting mess.
13. Morning routine
I've had a morning routine every since I was in 10th grade. It's evolved over the years, but it's always included some version of the following, as it does today: exercise, healthy breakfast, tea, reading something inspirational for at least 10 minutes, writing in a journal, reading my goals, planning my day.
14. Google reminders
I have to give Google Calendar and its SMS reminders (e.g. it sends reminders to my phone) it's own space here. This is my EVERYTHING when it comes to not missing deadlines and keeping on top of everything, especially now that my life includes travel, meetings, speeches, etc. Anytime I need to do something I set it in my calendar and set many SMS reminders. Set it and forget it! I love this.
15. Due dates are always the day before
I never plan to do something on the day it's due. Even in Google Calendar, I always mark a due date on the day before it's actually due. I never let myself know the "real" due date. I always plan to turn things in early.
I recently purposely procrastinated packing for a trip because of another priority - spending quality time with people I love. I had an opportunity to spend time with someone instead of packing the day before (something I usually do) and since I wasn't going to see that person for a while, I decided to spend time with them instead of packing early. It was worth it.
However, the next day was very stressful. I had just enough time for packing. That's the problem with procrastination. You leave just enough time. But we're not always good at knowing exactly how much time we'll need for something. And also - we can't predict what else might happen on that day. Turns out, my car had an issue and I had to take it to the mechanic before driving to the airport. Ack! Packing was done very quickly, I made it, but just barely.
The experience itself, though, was stressful. A stress I'm not used to, because I don't procrastinate especially so I can avoid this feeling. And here's what I realized:
When you procrastinate, your to-list owns you.
When you make a conscious effort to plan and prioritize, you own your schedule and your life. It feels pretty great. If planning makes you feel stressed than perhaps you haven't figured out what you really want, what you're really working for, or you're over-scheduling and planning in a way that makes you feel trapped. It shouldn't feel like you are owned by some schedule or list. It should feel like freedom and excitement and energy and joy.
That's when you know it's working for you.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Why planning to arrive to your first class on time is a bad idea
When I was a senior in high school I remember a couple older friends bragging about how "College is so easy. Professor's don't even take attendance - you don't even have to go to class!"
Those friends went to colleges where they were in classes with 300 other students. Attendance might not have been taken. But those friends took 5+ years to actually graduate.
This is not a good strategy.
But what I really want to talk about is not only ATTENDING every class, but arriving EARLY.
I'm writing this now because I want you to keep this in mind as you register for your spring semester.
Schedule your first class for a time that allows you to arrive on campus at least thirty minutes before that class starts (I also recommend not scheduling classes back to back; instead leave time in between where you'll be forced to spend time in the library studying, or have time to meet a professor, join a club, etc.)
Always, always, always plan to arrive to your first class at least 30 minutes early. Worst case scenario, you're there early and you can get some studying in. Best case scenario, when you hit those inevitable snags (e.g. traffic) you won't be late!
Strolling into class late not only means you'll miss important content (and possibly lose points depending on how your professors monitors attendance - it does count for many!), but it also sends a message. The truth may be that things out of your control happened, but regardless, it sends a message to the professor that the class just isn't that important to you.
Because in some ways, that might be true. If it's really important to you, plan ahead to always arrive early so you can ensure those things that are out of your control don't affect your college success or timeliness.
Sure, everyone might have one crazy thing happen each semester that makes them late or miss a class. Life happens. But if that's happening to you more than once a semester, it might be time to change something.
Choose your classes carefully, and don't just make time for class in your schedule. Good time management starts when you register for classes and decide on how much time you'll dedicate to your classroom. Schedule at least 2 hours in the library for every hour you have in class, and perhaps consider making one of those hours occur before your first class of each day so you're never late. :)
Those friends went to colleges where they were in classes with 300 other students. Attendance might not have been taken. But those friends took 5+ years to actually graduate.
This is not a good strategy.
I'm writing this now because I want you to keep this in mind as you register for your spring semester.
Schedule your first class for a time that allows you to arrive on campus at least thirty minutes before that class starts (I also recommend not scheduling classes back to back; instead leave time in between where you'll be forced to spend time in the library studying, or have time to meet a professor, join a club, etc.)
Always, always, always plan to arrive to your first class at least 30 minutes early. Worst case scenario, you're there early and you can get some studying in. Best case scenario, when you hit those inevitable snags (e.g. traffic) you won't be late!
Strolling into class late not only means you'll miss important content (and possibly lose points depending on how your professors monitors attendance - it does count for many!), but it also sends a message. The truth may be that things out of your control happened, but regardless, it sends a message to the professor that the class just isn't that important to you.
Because in some ways, that might be true. If it's really important to you, plan ahead to always arrive early so you can ensure those things that are out of your control don't affect your college success or timeliness.
Sure, everyone might have one crazy thing happen each semester that makes them late or miss a class. Life happens. But if that's happening to you more than once a semester, it might be time to change something.
Choose your classes carefully, and don't just make time for class in your schedule. Good time management starts when you register for classes and decide on how much time you'll dedicate to your classroom. Schedule at least 2 hours in the library for every hour you have in class, and perhaps consider making one of those hours occur before your first class of each day so you're never late. :)
Thursday, December 4, 2014
How to tackle BIG reading assignments in college
You know that feeling you get when you realize you have over 100 pages to read in a week for school? Instead of letting that feeling take over (i.e. making you avoid reading at all costs) do this instead:
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Why you should go into airplane mode even when you're not on an airplane
For example, when I purchased my second smart phone ever last week it was already two versions ahead of my current phone.
I've always been slow in this area because I never wanted to feel like I was a slave to my phone, to it's updates and bings and notifications and constant connectivity.
But alas, I can't fight it anymore. It's here, and here to stay, and the addiction has taken hold. When I hear a "bing" I just have to read it. I have to know what just happened!!! Was it a retweet?! A text?! A new LinkedIn connection?! I MUST KNOW NOW!!!!!
So yeah...I know, I know, "Welcome to the 21st Century, Isa." I've finally arrived, and while there are a ton of advantages to all this connectivity, there are still times where I need to just zone out and FOCUS.
As a professional writer and speaker this is especially vital. I almost never give the same speech twice, as every one is customized to the specific audience and event, so there are times where I have to focus deeply to get into the "zone" of creating something new.
Same with writing of course. And for a while I found myself actually procrastinating this work - something I never used to do.
And I realized it was because it was just so hard to focus. I was avoiding the strain not of the work itself, but of the effort it took to focus despite all the distractions around me.
Recently I decided to try something that I think might help you too when it comes to studying.
I turned my phone on airplane mode. Now, of course you can just turn it off too, but to the addict, that just feels wrong. ;)
So now when I need to get important work done I turn my phone on airplane mode, and sometimes even turn the wifi off on my laptop.
The result? I've felt re-energized in my work and have created some of the best speeches I've ever done, if I do say so myself. ;)
So give it a try!
(I also downloaded a bunch of classical music meant for studying on iTunes that I also use when I need to zone out the sounds around me too; just search 'classical music' and 'study' and you'll find a ton of results).
You may be surprised at how much you might accomplish, and what your brain can do when it's released from the constant "bing" for a little while.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Do you have to buy a computer for college? #AskIsa
Have a question you'd like to see me answer just for you in a video? Ask it in the comments, tweet it to @IsaAdney, or send me an e-mail at isa@isaadney.com! The student featured in this video is struggling with procrastination and isn't sure if he should buy a computer for college.
Check out the answer below! :)
Check out the answer below! :)
Monday, September 15, 2014
The easiest way to improve your grades (and your college experience)
Read.
And no, I don't just mean your textbooks (though you should definitely read those!)
You should read books on college success. Or your intended career path. Or anything that can give you new ideas and strategies in order to get where you are trying to go in your life.
Most people think they don't have time to read extra in college because of all the required reading. My advice?
Make time.
I read at least 10 minutes every morning. Sometimes it turns in to 30 minutes and sometimes in to more than an hour. But most days it's just 10 minutes. And while 10 minutes doesn't seem like a lot in a day, in a year you'll be amazed how how much you've read and how much you've learned.
What astounds me whenever I'm looking for a new book is that the answers to almost anything people are trying to achieve are out there.
Trying to be successful in community college? There's a book for that.
Trying to stop procrastinating? There's a book for that.
Trying to improve your grades? There's a book for that.
Trying to figure out what kind of career you might like? There's a book for that.
See where I'm going with this? ;)
There are also a lot of great resources online (like this blog... ;)) that you can fit into your reading time.
The key, is simple. Just read. Make it a daily habit.
Start with books that can help you be successful in college. Even if you're already doing great, I promise you will learn a new strategy or get a new idea from the college success books out there.
I was already a straight-A student and Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship winner when I took a College Success class at my community college. And I still learned so many things - things I still use to this day - that helped me be even more effective.
You will severely limit your success and your potential if you just read what's required of you. Read more. Read often. And watch, just watch, what happens.
Happy reading!
And no, I don't just mean your textbooks (though you should definitely read those!)
You should read books on college success. Or your intended career path. Or anything that can give you new ideas and strategies in order to get where you are trying to go in your life.
Most people think they don't have time to read extra in college because of all the required reading. My advice?
Make time.
I read at least 10 minutes every morning. Sometimes it turns in to 30 minutes and sometimes in to more than an hour. But most days it's just 10 minutes. And while 10 minutes doesn't seem like a lot in a day, in a year you'll be amazed how how much you've read and how much you've learned.
What astounds me whenever I'm looking for a new book is that the answers to almost anything people are trying to achieve are out there.
Trying to be successful in community college? There's a book for that.
Trying to stop procrastinating? There's a book for that.
Trying to improve your grades? There's a book for that.
Trying to figure out what kind of career you might like? There's a book for that.
See where I'm going with this? ;)
There are also a lot of great resources online (like this blog... ;)) that you can fit into your reading time.
The key, is simple. Just read. Make it a daily habit.
Start with books that can help you be successful in college. Even if you're already doing great, I promise you will learn a new strategy or get a new idea from the college success books out there.
I was already a straight-A student and Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship winner when I took a College Success class at my community college. And I still learned so many things - things I still use to this day - that helped me be even more effective.
You will severely limit your success and your potential if you just read what's required of you. Read more. Read often. And watch, just watch, what happens.
Happy reading!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
5 things to stop procrastination (while I wrap myself in plastic wrap??)
Procrastination is one of the most popular topics students ask me about, so I'm loading up content at the beginning of the semester for those of you who really want to get a handle on this and not let procrastination stop you from getting good grades and reaching your full potential in college.
Monday, August 18, 2014
How to stop procrastination BEFORE it starts
Do you procrastinate on fixing your procrastination?
Probably.
The WORST mistake you can make in college is not developing a plan to stop your procrastination before the semester starts.
One of my most popular posts ever features 10 ways to stop procrastination, and I wanted to add another way you can stop it - BEFORE the semester starts.
(If you're reading this after a semester has started it's okay, this can still help.)
Not only will this help you not procrastinate, but it can also help you improve your grades IMMENSELY.
I've developed this really simple time management chart for you that you can download and do in a few minutes RIGHT now (see links below).
I know you want to procrastinate this right? You're already opening a new window and thinking "well, Isa, that sounds good and all, but I'll do it tomorrow, right now I need to catch up on my Twitter feed").
Hold it right there. You can do this right now. I believe in you!! Tell that procrastinator in your brain to be quiet and keep scrolling.
I can't take all the credit for this idea as I got the inspiration for it in a book I was reading this morning about teaching a college course. I added my own spin to it and I hope it helps.
Doing this chart will help you plan to have plenty of time to do homework, readings, and study for each course AND enough time to get ahead and put in the time and effort required to get an A in any class.
I spent at least two hours in the library for every course each week and it enabled me to get straight-A's throughout college without stress or procrastination. I also almost never did homework on the weekends, which may not work for everyone, but I loved devoting Monday-Friday to school and then the weekends to pure fun.
If you put the time and effort into building your schedule the way you want it (and make the necessary sacrifices to make your classes and the work required of them a priority, even over work) you can get the grades you know you're capable of and actually enjoy the learning process.
You may feel like you need the last-minute pressure to do your work, but once you experience the thrill of doing something EARLY you may just find that can motivate you even more.
Click on one of the links below to download the chart to help you build your schedule and find the time you need to reach your full potential in college. I've made the documents available on Dropbox for you and the links are below.
It looks like this:
I challenge you to do this right now. Go. Come on. You can conquer procrastination once and for all.
Your GPA will thank you.
Probably.
The WORST mistake you can make in college is not developing a plan to stop your procrastination before the semester starts.
One of my most popular posts ever features 10 ways to stop procrastination, and I wanted to add another way you can stop it - BEFORE the semester starts.
(If you're reading this after a semester has started it's okay, this can still help.)
Not only will this help you not procrastinate, but it can also help you improve your grades IMMENSELY.
I've developed this really simple time management chart for you that you can download and do in a few minutes RIGHT now (see links below).
I know you want to procrastinate this right? You're already opening a new window and thinking "well, Isa, that sounds good and all, but I'll do it tomorrow, right now I need to catch up on my Twitter feed").
Hold it right there. You can do this right now. I believe in you!! Tell that procrastinator in your brain to be quiet and keep scrolling.
I can't take all the credit for this idea as I got the inspiration for it in a book I was reading this morning about teaching a college course. I added my own spin to it and I hope it helps.
Doing this chart will help you plan to have plenty of time to do homework, readings, and study for each course AND enough time to get ahead and put in the time and effort required to get an A in any class.
I spent at least two hours in the library for every course each week and it enabled me to get straight-A's throughout college without stress or procrastination. I also almost never did homework on the weekends, which may not work for everyone, but I loved devoting Monday-Friday to school and then the weekends to pure fun.
If you put the time and effort into building your schedule the way you want it (and make the necessary sacrifices to make your classes and the work required of them a priority, even over work) you can get the grades you know you're capable of and actually enjoy the learning process.
You may feel like you need the last-minute pressure to do your work, but once you experience the thrill of doing something EARLY you may just find that can motivate you even more.
Click on one of the links below to download the chart to help you build your schedule and find the time you need to reach your full potential in college. I've made the documents available on Dropbox for you and the links are below.
Your GPA will thank you.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Success Series: What successful people know about procrastination
I've been writing this blog for over three years, and the most popular blog article by far is one I wrote in 2011 on....drumroll please....procrastination.
People find this post from Google searching - and it seems students are Google searching procrastination a lot.
Which tells me two things:
1) Students struggle with procrastination.
2) They want to get better.
I've read dozens of books about successful people and met many successful people, from CEO's to non-profit founders to New York Times Best selling authors to college presidents. Something has really struck me about my interactions with these people:
They don't seem to procrastinate.
Seriously. Of all the people I connect with and e-mail, those who are most successful tend to get back to me the fastest. It almost doesn't make sense.
But it's true.
When I sought out people to review my book for the inside and back covers, without fail those who were the most successful - the ones I thought would be the least likely to get back to me - got back to me before those who hadn't reached those heights in their careers.
How can that be? My theory is that they got to where they are because they don't procrastinate - they just get things done right away, and are really good at knowing what is important.
They only do the important things - and instead of procrastinating unimportant things, they just delegate them or get them out of their life.
Successful people get to where they are by prioritizing the important things.
Sometimes I procrastinate cleaning the kitchen or organizing a drawer. But I never procrastinated my school work when I was a student. Seriously, never.
Not because I'm just amazing. But because inherently I knew this was important. I wanted it. I wanted to do well. And I knew I had to get it done right away - I had to take action on an essay the day it was due to start to build momentum. Because I wasn't immune to procrastination - I just learned to protect myself against it.
Procrastination can be a vicious cycle. Because the more you put something off the bigger it seems and the less you'll want to do it because it just seems so daunting.
One of the best ways to fight procrastination is to act on important tasks right away.
When you get an assignment - do something to move it forward right away. For example, when you get an essay assignment, do some research immediately, check out a book that will help you, or format a basic outline and save the document on your computer. I'm talking 5 minutes here.
The first step builds momentum that makes it seem less overwhelming. Sometimes you'll feel so buzzy from getting something done that you'll want to keep going.
If that doesn't work, ask yourself if you need to raise the level of importance of your overall goal that the task relates to.
Is college actually important to you? Does getting the best grade you can really matter to you? Why are you in college? What do you want?
Sometimes procrastination might mean something isn't that important to you. Or maybe you're not just totally connecting how this task can actually help you get where you want to go.
Figure out how to raise the level of importance and put cues into your routine that will help remind you of that importance (like reading your goals every morning or meeting weekly with a mentor).
Or maybe sometimes you're procrastinating something because it's really not what you want. Maybe you need to change your major. Maybe you need to research a new path.
Whatever you do, don't ignore procrastination. Take some time to think about what's happening and do something about it. I know, telling procrastinators to not procrastinate thinking about procrastination. Ha.
But you get what I'm saying. And I know you can do this because, hey, you read this entire article, right? That means there's something that is important to you that you want to stop procrastinating.
Don't do anything else before you do something to move that task forward right now. Seriously. Stop reading. Go! ;)
People find this post from Google searching - and it seems students are Google searching procrastination a lot.
Which tells me two things:
1) Students struggle with procrastination.
2) They want to get better.
I've read dozens of books about successful people and met many successful people, from CEO's to non-profit founders to New York Times Best selling authors to college presidents. Something has really struck me about my interactions with these people:
They don't seem to procrastinate.
Seriously. Of all the people I connect with and e-mail, those who are most successful tend to get back to me the fastest. It almost doesn't make sense.
But it's true.
When I sought out people to review my book for the inside and back covers, without fail those who were the most successful - the ones I thought would be the least likely to get back to me - got back to me before those who hadn't reached those heights in their careers.
How can that be? My theory is that they got to where they are because they don't procrastinate - they just get things done right away, and are really good at knowing what is important.
They only do the important things - and instead of procrastinating unimportant things, they just delegate them or get them out of their life.
Successful people get to where they are by prioritizing the important things.
Sometimes I procrastinate cleaning the kitchen or organizing a drawer. But I never procrastinated my school work when I was a student. Seriously, never.
Not because I'm just amazing. But because inherently I knew this was important. I wanted it. I wanted to do well. And I knew I had to get it done right away - I had to take action on an essay the day it was due to start to build momentum. Because I wasn't immune to procrastination - I just learned to protect myself against it.
Procrastination can be a vicious cycle. Because the more you put something off the bigger it seems and the less you'll want to do it because it just seems so daunting.
One of the best ways to fight procrastination is to act on important tasks right away.
When you get an assignment - do something to move it forward right away. For example, when you get an essay assignment, do some research immediately, check out a book that will help you, or format a basic outline and save the document on your computer. I'm talking 5 minutes here.
The first step builds momentum that makes it seem less overwhelming. Sometimes you'll feel so buzzy from getting something done that you'll want to keep going.
If that doesn't work, ask yourself if you need to raise the level of importance of your overall goal that the task relates to.
Is college actually important to you? Does getting the best grade you can really matter to you? Why are you in college? What do you want?
Sometimes procrastination might mean something isn't that important to you. Or maybe you're not just totally connecting how this task can actually help you get where you want to go.
Figure out how to raise the level of importance and put cues into your routine that will help remind you of that importance (like reading your goals every morning or meeting weekly with a mentor).
Or maybe sometimes you're procrastinating something because it's really not what you want. Maybe you need to change your major. Maybe you need to research a new path.
Whatever you do, don't ignore procrastination. Take some time to think about what's happening and do something about it. I know, telling procrastinators to not procrastinate thinking about procrastination. Ha.
But you get what I'm saying. And I know you can do this because, hey, you read this entire article, right? That means there's something that is important to you that you want to stop procrastinating.
Don't do anything else before you do something to move that task forward right now. Seriously. Stop reading. Go! ;)
Monday, May 12, 2014
My secret sauce for staying motivated
From the Ask Isa Inbox:
Dear Isa,
How do you stay fully motivated?
Sincerely,
Unmotivated
Dear Unmotivated,
I'd be happy to share my secret of motivation with you - it's what has kept me motivated throughout my entire life to work hard each and every day. My "secret sauce," if you will. Are you ready?
Okay, here it is:
I'm not fully motivated all the time.
Whew. There. I said it. I feel better already.
The truth is, people often confuse hard work and persistence with the emotion of motivation. Motivation is important - it is - but it's an emotion that ebbs and flows. It isn't constant. And that's okay.
The secret is that to stay "motivated" all the time what you really have to do is build habits and routines into your life that keep you on the right track EVEN WHEN YOU AREN'T MOTIVATED.
Make sense?
Let me give you an example: when it comes to college, write down your goals. Ask yourself: Why are you in college? What do you want your life to look like after you graduate? What's in it for you? Why are you doing this? How will your life change?
Write down what you see, and what your goals are, and THEN, build into your routine a time where you read them each day. I also recommend journaling at that time as well as reading a book that will help you reach your goals (whether it's a college success book or a book related to what you want to do in your career, or an inspiring biography or memoir).
All of the above are part of my morning routine, in addition to this:
Write down the top three tasks you want to accomplish each morning and do at least one task right away.
Building routines and developing good habits in your life is what helps you act yourself into the feeling of motivation.
I've rarely just "felt" motivated - if ever. What happens is that I do something towards my goals and motivation follows.
It's kind of hard to explain, but once you experience it you'll know it. Here's a quick list of some of my go-to activities when I'm feeling "meh."
1) Have lunch with a friend
2) Grab coffee with a mentor
3) Read a book about a subject I'm interested in
4) Browse a bookstore for a new book about something I want to accomplish
5) Read a biography or memoir about someone I admire
6) Volunteer with an organization that inspires me
7) Edit my goals and re-think what I really want
8) Write or read my mission statement
9) Read The Alchemist (again)
10) Take a walk outside, preferably somewhere pretty
11) Tackle a big task I've been procrastinating
12) Make a list of what I've accomplished so far to remind myself that my actions can affect my future
Try some of these things and let me know how it works (isa@isaadney.com).
And if you have anything to add please share in the comments of this blog or on the Facebook page!
Dear Isa,
How do you stay fully motivated?
Sincerely,
Unmotivated
Dear Unmotivated,
I'd be happy to share my secret of motivation with you - it's what has kept me motivated throughout my entire life to work hard each and every day. My "secret sauce," if you will. Are you ready?
Okay, here it is:
I'm not fully motivated all the time.
Whew. There. I said it. I feel better already.
The truth is, people often confuse hard work and persistence with the emotion of motivation. Motivation is important - it is - but it's an emotion that ebbs and flows. It isn't constant. And that's okay.
The secret is that to stay "motivated" all the time what you really have to do is build habits and routines into your life that keep you on the right track EVEN WHEN YOU AREN'T MOTIVATED.
Make sense?
Let me give you an example: when it comes to college, write down your goals. Ask yourself: Why are you in college? What do you want your life to look like after you graduate? What's in it for you? Why are you doing this? How will your life change?
Write down what you see, and what your goals are, and THEN, build into your routine a time where you read them each day. I also recommend journaling at that time as well as reading a book that will help you reach your goals (whether it's a college success book or a book related to what you want to do in your career, or an inspiring biography or memoir).
All of the above are part of my morning routine, in addition to this:
Write down the top three tasks you want to accomplish each morning and do at least one task right away.
Building routines and developing good habits in your life is what helps you act yourself into the feeling of motivation.
I've rarely just "felt" motivated - if ever. What happens is that I do something towards my goals and motivation follows.
It's kind of hard to explain, but once you experience it you'll know it. Here's a quick list of some of my go-to activities when I'm feeling "meh."
1) Have lunch with a friend
2) Grab coffee with a mentor
3) Read a book about a subject I'm interested in
4) Browse a bookstore for a new book about something I want to accomplish
5) Read a biography or memoir about someone I admire
6) Volunteer with an organization that inspires me
7) Edit my goals and re-think what I really want
8) Write or read my mission statement
9) Read The Alchemist (again)
10) Take a walk outside, preferably somewhere pretty
11) Tackle a big task I've been procrastinating
12) Make a list of what I've accomplished so far to remind myself that my actions can affect my future
Try some of these things and let me know how it works (isa@isaadney.com).
And if you have anything to add please share in the comments of this blog or on the Facebook page!
Monday, July 15, 2013
How to study and avoid procrastination in college
I have a confession to make: I procrastinate.
This is weird for me to say, because as my avid readers know, I'm the kind of person who does work way ahead of time; I never procrastinated in college.
However, in the past year of having my own speaking and consulting business, I'd started to notice a procrastination problem: I wouldn't start organizing my speeches until the last minute.
I love giving speeches, but I often dreaded planning them out.
My speeches are very organic, personal, and customized; I never do the exact same speech twice, which makes for a great experience, but an intensive planning process every time.
And up until recently the only process I knew to develop each unique speech was to sit in front of a blank Word document, think about my audience's needs, type out an outline, practice the speech, and then build the PowerPoint.
Seems simple enough, but as you know from having essay assignments, staring at that blank screen is torture.
I recently read the best book I've ever read on giving presentations and it sparked an entire new process of developing speeches.
I just finished enacting my new process (I'm writing this on a Friday night, but am scheduling this post for Monday because I know most people aren't huge nerds like me who enjoy working on a Friday night) and I felt so invigorated that I had to share this experience with you.
Finally, instead of staring at that blank screen I have a process that doesn't make me feel overwhelmed!
And most importantly - it's a process that killed my procrastination. I'm now unnaturally excited to plan all my speeches for the entire fall season and will probably have them all ready to go in the next two weeks.
As I wrote my speech ideas onto notecards and categorized them on my living room floor I couldn't help but remember the wisdom of my 9th grade teacher who taught us how to write a research paper by breaking it up into small parts:
(i.e. writing each quote on a notecard, organizing the notecards in categories, and then ordering the notecards into a cohesive order; then all we had to do was go notecard by notecard and fill in the gaps with our writing).
It reminded me that studying and tackling big projects in college requires purposeful process planning (omg is anyone else as excited as I am about this unplanned alliteration?).
Effective studying is not staring at a book. Writing a good essay is not staring at a blank screen. We procrastinate to avoid that awful feeling of not knowing how to start or what to do next.
So the next time you get a homework assignment, I've already got your first step covered: develop a process.
For example:
1) Look at your assignment and create a list of small things you need to do in order to complete it. Each step shouldn't take you any longer than one hour. Keep the steps short and simple.
2) Make sure each item begins with some kind of action verb.
3) Be creative. The best studying is down-and-dirty. Use your hands, use old-school tools like paper, scissors and markers, make notecards, spread your work all around the floor, plan discussions with friends, write on white boards, create animations, make up games.
4) Go through your list and check off each thing as you complete it so that the next time you sit down to do your homework you only have to look at the next thing to be completed; don't overwhelm yourself by looking at it all. Just focus on one thing at a time.
Breaking down your work into smaller parts and developing a process that works for you is actually invigorating and kind of fun. Seriously. I'm not just a total nerd talking, I swear (oops...I already revealed I was doing work on a Friday night...but it really was fun. And I have lots of cool-awesome-epic (is saying "epic" still a thing?) non-work-related activities planned for Saturday ;)).
We procrastinate because we're trying to avoid the feeling of incompetence. When you develop a process for your work you'll instantly feel more competent and confident, and you'll be armed with the skills to tackle your project ahead of time.
For more reading on the best college study skills and processes check out my fav study skill book Cal Newport's How to Become a Straight-A Student.
This is weird for me to say, because as my avid readers know, I'm the kind of person who does work way ahead of time; I never procrastinated in college.
However, in the past year of having my own speaking and consulting business, I'd started to notice a procrastination problem: I wouldn't start organizing my speeches until the last minute.
I love giving speeches, but I often dreaded planning them out.
My speeches are very organic, personal, and customized; I never do the exact same speech twice, which makes for a great experience, but an intensive planning process every time.
And up until recently the only process I knew to develop each unique speech was to sit in front of a blank Word document, think about my audience's needs, type out an outline, practice the speech, and then build the PowerPoint.
Seems simple enough, but as you know from having essay assignments, staring at that blank screen is torture.
I recently read the best book I've ever read on giving presentations and it sparked an entire new process of developing speeches.
I just finished enacting my new process (I'm writing this on a Friday night, but am scheduling this post for Monday because I know most people aren't huge nerds like me who enjoy working on a Friday night) and I felt so invigorated that I had to share this experience with you.
Finally, instead of staring at that blank screen I have a process that doesn't make me feel overwhelmed!
And most importantly - it's a process that killed my procrastination. I'm now unnaturally excited to plan all my speeches for the entire fall season and will probably have them all ready to go in the next two weeks.
As I wrote my speech ideas onto notecards and categorized them on my living room floor I couldn't help but remember the wisdom of my 9th grade teacher who taught us how to write a research paper by breaking it up into small parts:
(i.e. writing each quote on a notecard, organizing the notecards in categories, and then ordering the notecards into a cohesive order; then all we had to do was go notecard by notecard and fill in the gaps with our writing).
It reminded me that studying and tackling big projects in college requires purposeful process planning (omg is anyone else as excited as I am about this unplanned alliteration?).
Effective studying is not staring at a book. Writing a good essay is not staring at a blank screen. We procrastinate to avoid that awful feeling of not knowing how to start or what to do next.
So the next time you get a homework assignment, I've already got your first step covered: develop a process.
For example:
1) Look at your assignment and create a list of small things you need to do in order to complete it. Each step shouldn't take you any longer than one hour. Keep the steps short and simple.
2) Make sure each item begins with some kind of action verb.
3) Be creative. The best studying is down-and-dirty. Use your hands, use old-school tools like paper, scissors and markers, make notecards, spread your work all around the floor, plan discussions with friends, write on white boards, create animations, make up games.
4) Go through your list and check off each thing as you complete it so that the next time you sit down to do your homework you only have to look at the next thing to be completed; don't overwhelm yourself by looking at it all. Just focus on one thing at a time.
Breaking down your work into smaller parts and developing a process that works for you is actually invigorating and kind of fun. Seriously. I'm not just a total nerd talking, I swear (oops...I already revealed I was doing work on a Friday night...but it really was fun. And I have lots of cool-awesome-epic (is saying "epic" still a thing?) non-work-related activities planned for Saturday ;)).
We procrastinate because we're trying to avoid the feeling of incompetence. When you develop a process for your work you'll instantly feel more competent and confident, and you'll be armed with the skills to tackle your project ahead of time.
For more reading on the best college study skills and processes check out my fav study skill book Cal Newport's How to Become a Straight-A Student.
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