Anxiety and procrastination

Hi all, I am in my third year of university you would think I would have learned how to map out my coursework by now, but I haven't.
I know I have seven weeks until I have to sit two exams, and write two essays but I can feel myself repeating the same patterns. I get stressed and anxious and don't think I could fit everything in, and may start one thing really well. But it falls apart and I get nothing real done in the end. I get anxious then with a deadline looming and feel stupid, even though I am not stupid.

How to stop procrastinating? My college friends know me as the procrastinator, i joke with them but inside I die when I am referred to as that person. They think I have not got a care in the world and I enjoy the last minute stuff. How wrong they are. I never know where to start, and my group are so competitive we never study together. Help!

Hi Procrash,

I can relate to this, but my issue with procrastination centers around perfectionism. Ask yourself if there is something behind why you are procrastinating in the first place. I start off great too & then can get very anxious, discouraged or overwhelmed b/c I think what I'm doing isn't good enough. Then the procrastination tends to spiral out of control.

If that is your issue too, just try to break down the work you have to do. Set aside a few hours each day, or a couple of days a week, depending on your work load. Eliminate distractions and just focus on studying, reading, research, writing or whatever it is you need to do. Make it an appt. w/ yourself, as if it were your job, that's not optional. If you do miss a day, (life happens) make it up the next.

If you are procrastinating about essays, try asking one of your friends to help you brainstorm. Or ask a friend or your professor to look over your first draft so that you can get back on track.

If you're having trouble getting a paper started in the 1st place, go to your prof and talk to him/her. They will help you, and they will be glad that you came to them ahead of time and asked for their input. It will show them that you actually care about your work, but are having difficulty. That's what they are there for.

BTW, I think I need to follow some of my own advice on this one, so thanks so much for posting this and reminding me!!!

Best of luck to you!

Like SeekingZen wrote, breaking down your stuff is a really good idea.
If you're having trouble working for 2-3 hours before going back to the anxiety state, try telling yourself that you have to study for 15 or 20 minutes without thinking of anything else. Usually when I do this, I end up studying for at least 30-35 minutes without even discovering it.
Also, reward yourself when you do good! Eat your favourite cake or play games for some time. Make yourself associate studying with something nice

Good luck, I'm sure you'll make it!

Ugh. I have similar issues. I'm in my junior year as well and I either get depressed and then stressed and anxious about the work I have to catch up on or I get stressed and anxious about getting A's on everything, which makes me depressed. It's a horrible vicious cycle.

Last semester I started doing something that really helped me. I got a composition notebook. On the left side of the page, I keep a running to-do list of the things that need to get done (ie: pick up meds, do reading for a specific class). Then, every morning, on the right side of the page, I pick a couple of tasks that I can realistically complete that day. I try to break down the bigger tasks from the left side into manageable chunks (ie: if "Read Shakespeare's Henry V" is on the left, then the task on the right may be "Read up to Act 3 of Henry V") This helps me because 1) it feels less overwhelming to see a tangible list and 2) I get HUGE satisfaction from crossing things off my daily to-do list and my weekly to-do list. Setting the goals in the morning, every morning, really helps me focus on what needs to get done every day.

Good luck! I feel like it's about finding a system that works well for you. And make sure you reward yourself too!

Thank you, your last line made me giggle, you must be like me!
I never think of myself as a perfectionist, but I am never ever happy with the work I hand in. I do always think it could be better. I do find it impossible to even get a start on an assignment or an essay. I just spent a few hours researching and making out a letter for a friend. I put my work aside to do that, I seem to be happy to get stuck into others work but when it comes to my work, it's so hard.

I make very bad excuses, anything just to go smoke. I should reward myself, it is something I didn't even think of.

Wow the composition book is a good idea! I do well with my diary for appointments, and my phone reminders. I will try this, thanks.

I hope it works for you. I keep my appointments/obligations on a calendar but just having a notebook for todo lists really really helps me. Let me know if you have any questions... and also, remember that you can rework the systems so that they fit for your specific needs. But reach out if you need help-- because I struggle with school-related procrastination too. So I can totally relate to you there

I don't know. Slightly you sound like you have ADHD.

Stimulants medications for ADHD like Ritalin and Dexamphetamine tend to increase drive and motivation. They MIGHT help you, as long as you are not prone to anxiety or paranoia.

A very careful, non-excessive dose of the above psychostimulants, could provide you the boost you need. However you must ALWAYS have decided the dose you will take a day in advance, and you must be very careful not to abuse such substances. A psychiatrist might prescribe a low to mediium dose for you, but you should read up detailed information on side effects (don't be alarmed, just be aware)