Isabel Chang walks you through methods for defeating procrastination.

By Isabel Chang ’24

Something many of us are finding particularly hard this quarantine–or school year in general–is motivation. Whether it’s a project deadline you know is coming up, or a test tomorrow which you really should study for, motivation has fallen and is nowhere to be found. In this tedious chase for inspiration, a lot of us are unknowingly playing hide and seek with our drive.

So, the big question is…what do we do?

Unfortunately, working up the impulse to get something done isn’t as easy as, say, procrastination (a natural skill honed by many). It requires a certain level of commitment. This isn’t always simple, so here are a few basic mindsets, which could potentially save you from this second invisible pandemic.

Potential booster number one: Don’t criticize yourself. In fact, lower those expectations of yours and claim a small victory here and there. Reward yourself after the little tasks you accomplish, with a piece of chocolate, some screen-time, or a walk around the house. The small things are what build up to the big. With little checkpoints along the way, who’s to say this isn’t the best option for accomplishing something huge? Of course, don’t completely let go– do maintain a certain level of aggression, but know that unrealistic goals can backfire completely.

Motivational booster two: It may seem generic, but do what you love. Of course, math is mandatory, but while studying for your test, go take a break and run outside for a little bit or doodle on a piece of paper. Get a good grade, and then go do what you love. Who knows, maybe after a little boost of dopamine those cubic functions and two-variable equations will seem a lot simpler than the mind-numbing mess of x, y’s and z’s scrawled out across the page.

Inspiration booster number three: Forget about those previous two mindsets. If you are someone who’s head hurts and mind swims at all that positivity, here are the real, hard facts of cutting to the chase—just do it. Believe it or not, the Nike slogan is just what some of us need in the last stretch to “productivity town.” Take a break before starting, and do the work. Listen to music, eat cookies, drink water while finishing up that project, sure. But no matter what, don’t procrastinate. You’ll feel a lot better after that dreaded assignment is completed, and maybe even excited for more. With your newfound victory, so much can be achieved. Those first two techniques can come into full play here. Now that you’ve finished something, reward yourself. Then ride that wave of newfound motivation to get something you love done—art, music, writing, anything!

Positivity and advice can get pretty mind-numbing and repetitive. Whether that affects you or not is entirely up to yourself, but when the wave of boredom hits, results can be devastating – not just to you, but to others, too. Hopefully, you finally found where Motivation was hiding, and now you can get down to work.