Get Motivated: How to Avoid Procrastination

1. Get Motivated: How to Avoid Procrastination Presented by Dr. Gregory Phillips Anna Urbanski, GA Academic Learning Center St. Cloud State University

2. Overview What motivation means to you Tips on managing distractions Habit formation

3. Technology • Put your phone on silent and hide it or give it to a friend. • Set specific times for tv/video games. • Go to the library. • Study in a separate room. • Use website-blocking extensions. • StayFocusdfor Google Chrome • Set up relevant websites. • Listen to music without lyrics. • Other tips?

4. Social Time • Put your phone on silent or turn it off and hide it or give it to a friend. • Set times for hanging out with friends. • Prioritize unexpected events/activities with other responsibilities. • Other tips?

5. Other tasks • Prioritize. • Want to be working in the Important/Not Urgent to keep stress low. • Make a list or create a schedule. • Plan meals ahead of time. • Break assignments into smaller steps. • Sleep – important or not important?

6. Habit Formation • Be open to change. • Just because it worked for you in high school doesn’t mean it will always work for you in college. • Try it – a study strategy, a schedule, a place to study, etc. • If it didn’t work, try something new. • Ask for help. • Habits form in about three weeks, not overnight. • It takes more effort initially, but once it becomes a habit it becomes much easier to complete. Van Blerkom, Dianna. Orientation to College Learning. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010.

7. For More information Academic Learning Center2ndFloor Centennial Hall, Rm 236 www.stcloudstate.edu/alc Facebook Page COLL 110: Reading and Study Strategies COLL 120: Power Reading Tutoring Center One-on-One Study Strategies Help Upcoming Workshop Organization Techniques for Finals and the End of the Semester Thursday, April 18 12-12:50PM Atwood Cascade Room