Exams are near, you’ve made a perfect timetable, and you feel confident. But instead of following it today, you postpone it to tomorrow. Then again the next day. Suddenly, exams are just two days away, and panic sets in. Sound familiar? You’re not alone—most students face this problem at some point. This habit of putting things off, even when you know they’re important, is called procrastination.
Procrastination can cause stress, lower your performance, and affect your long-term success. The good news? You can beat it with simple strategies. Let’s explore why we procrastinate and how to overcome it.
🗝️Why Do We Procrastinate?
Our brains are wired to seek short-term rewards. When faced with two choices—finishing homework or watching your favorite show—your brain pushes you toward the activity that feels rewarding immediately (watching TV). Homework, on the other hand, doesn’t give instant satisfaction, even though it has greater long-term rewards.
This is why we keep postponing tasks. The trick is to work with your brain, not against it—by making rewards part of the process.
The Reward Trick: Train Your Brain to Work
Whenever you face a difficult or boring task, try this two-step method:
1. Announce Your Reward
Say out loud what you’ll give yourself after finishing the task. Example:
“If I complete my assignment by Thursday, I’ll reward myself with a big bar of Hershey’s chocolate.”
Being specific is important—your brain takes it seriously when you name the reward clearly.
2. Keep the Reward Visible
Place the reward where you can see it while working. This acts as a visual cue that reminds your brain of what’s waiting once you finish.
This combination—commitment through announcement and reinforcement through visibility—helps you start tasks quickly and stay motivated until you complete them.
🎯Example in Action
Imagine your assignment is due next Friday, but you want to finish by Thursday. You:
1. Announce: “If I finish by Thursday, I get this chocolate bar.”
2. Keep the chocolate on your desk where you can see it.
Every time your motivation drops, the sight of the chocolate reignites your drive. By Thursday, not only is your work done, but you also get to enjoy your reward.
Level Up Your Rewards
At first, small treats like chocolates, snacks, or short breaks work well. But as you grow, challenge yourself to pick more meaningful rewards, such as:
- Listening to your favorite music
- Playing a quick football or table tennis match
- Taking a short hike or walk
- Spending quality time with a friend
📝Quick Summary
- Procrastination happens because our brain prefers short-term rewards.
- Beat it by announcing a clear reward and keeping it visible until the task is done.
- Start small, then move to bigger and more meaningful rewards as you progress.
🚀Final Thoughts
Procrastination doesn’t define you. With small tricks like the Reward Method, you can train your brain to act now and succeed later. Try it with your next assignment—you’ll be amazed how effective it is!
Stay consistent, and you’ll see your productivity—and your confidence—soar.