Michael Tefula - Student Procrastination: Seize the Day and Get More Work Done

Student Procrastination

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Seize the Day and Get More Work Done

Michael Tefula

Michael Tefula 2014

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First published 2014 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN

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ISBN: 9781137312457

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When I was given the opportunity to write a book on student procrastination, I wondered whether I could take up the challenge. After all, I am not a professor of psychology, nor am I someone who never procrastinates. In fact, I struggled with procrastination both at university and in my subsequent professional studies.

With that said, I consider these weaknesses to be strengths too, because I have approached this book from the perspective of someone who frequently has to overcome procrastination, as opposed to someone who has never had an issue with putting things off. So, how did I end up here?

At university, I was faced with the same distractions and temptations all students face but fortunately managed to minimise procrastination to a level that allowed me to graduate with a first. I subsequently had to dig deeper in terms of focus and willpower to write my debut book, How to Get a First: Insights and Advice from a First-class Graduate.

Upon graduation, I secured a job to train as a chartered accountant in the world of corporate finance where I was, yet again, faced with a large number of exams and revision to do over the course of my training contract.

To date, I have six years behind me of university and professional studies, and as well as having authored two books, I have had my fair share of project work, deadlines, time pressure, and productivity issues. With this book, I hope some of my experiences, research and insights will save you from the difficulties I faced when trying to get things done!

Its 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday and Emily is trembling with fear. The ensuing panic and bewilderment as to where all her time went, along with the crash that follows the gobbling up of cheap energy drinks, cant be helping.

However, time pressure usually leads to an adrenaline boost and, despite the frenzy, Emily now has a renewed sense of focus and purpose: to bash out and proofread the last 500 words of a 3,000-word essay she has been writing since Monday morning all within 20 minutes.

The essay is due at 9.00 a.m. on the day. By finishing at 8.50 a.m. Emily will be able to print off the essay, submit a soft copy online, and rush off to the Law School to submit a hard copy.

Fortunately, she makes it in the nick of time and submits the coursework before the deadline. This is the last time I will leave things till late, she tells herself. Strange as it may seem, Emily also got a bit of a buzz from the drama that commenced as a result of leaving things till the last minute.

Perhaps Emily enjoys working under pressure. The last time she submitted coursework this late she got 67 per cent, nearly a first. Or does the buzz of working under pressure only appeal if followed by a big sigh of relief at having managed to successfully meet a deadline? Regardless, things arent looking so good this time round.

In the final hours of her deadline, Emily lost the big picture in her essay as she raced to submit the work on time. The essay was flimsy, at best, and rushing through it was a disservice to her ability to produce intelligent and creative work. What was she thinking? Ample time was given (a whole four weeks) in which to complete the essay, yet here she was, worrying whether she had done enough to even scrape a pass.