Diane Gallagher
Assoc. Features Editor

It is week six of the semester here at Millersville University: assignments are piling up, deadlines have come and gone, and tests need to be studied for. Where did all the time go? How could you have forgotten the wise recommendation of Charles Dickens, who once said, “My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time”?
Procrastination is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks before more urgent ones or doing more pleasurable activities in place of less pleasurable ones, thus putting off looming tasks to a later date or time.
A mere 5 percent of the population admitted to being chronic procrastinators in 1978; roughly 26 percent admit to it today. Surveys conducted on student populations suggest that procrastination is omnipresent, with a staggering 85-95 percent of students admitting to their incessant procrastination.

Friends do not let friends procrastinate! Get those looming assignments done today.
Friends do not let friends procrastinate! Get those looming assignments done today.

“I procrastinate often. I usually don’t do reading assignments and wait to do papers last minute,” said Sarah Wenstrup. “It stresses me out a little, but once I get through it I feel like it wasn’t a big deal to be stressed for a short amount of time so I do it again. The worst anxiety I have is if we talk about the reading assignment in class,” she added.
Wenstrup is not alone: many people experience anxiety due to their procrastinating ways. It is incredibly unhealthy to continually put your body through this type of stress. There have been studies that suggest anxiety may compromise the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to infections and diseases. Feeling anxious also tends to cause people to lose their ability to focus, consequently increasing their chances of being involved in accidents.
“Unfortunately I procrastinate quite often, but one good thing that has come out of it is learning to do work under pressure. However, the cons of procrastination for me include all-nighters, sleep deprivation, increased heart rate, and stomach aches,” Megan Quinn said.
Stress is highly individualized. A situation, such as when one is dealing with procrastination, may cause one person stress but not bother another person in the slightest. Not all stress is bad, after all; we need a certain amount of stress in our lives because it is stimulating and motivating. However, the stress caused by procrastination can lead to tension, fatigue, insomnia, muscle aches, digestive upset, appetite change, headaches, restlessness, forgetfulness, low productivity, confusion, poor concentration, lethargy, negativity, and a busy mind.
If you are a chronic procrastinator, and are feeling the pains and stress that come with putting things off, you can easily overcome your procrastination when you put your mind to it and start exercising a little self-control.
Ignite an effective time management strategy. Start by choosing one simple thing you have been putting off and do it immediately. Taking care of just one irksome responsibility can be energizing and can spark enough motivation to put an end to your procrastinating ways. Here are a few approaches to help kick your procrastination habit:
1. Make a list
Focus your list on the things you normally put off the most, not the things you are sure to do every day. Set deadlines for tasks to be completed.
2. Remove distractions
Catch yourself daydreaming instead of writing that paper, or checking a social media site? Not if you clear your workspace. Take away all possible distractions; if you still find your mind wandering set a timer for 10 minutes, and focus on nothing but the job in front of you. Once the timer goes off, take a 2 minute break and then repeat the process.
3. Finish the HARD stuff
If you have a big project, finish it first. Not only will this free up more time for other items on your list, but it will also help motivate you to keep achieving the tasks at hand.
If the project is too large to accomplish in one sitting, break it into manageable smaller tasks and complete them systematically.
4. Motivate yourself
Most people say they procrastinate because they work better under pressure. Create a deadline for each task that is in advance of its actual due date. You will still have the pressure you need to perform without the underlying feeling of doom if you don’t quite hit your mark.
5. Team up
If you cannot seem to stay focused on your own, create a buddy system. Find someone to help encourage you to complete your responsibilities. Telling someone about what you have to accomplish will motivate you to do so, and knowing your friend will be asking about your progress will further motivate you to finish the project.
6. Focus on the end goal
It is easy to become overwhelmed when all you can see is the giant to-do list in front of you. Take a deep breath, and remind yourself of all the free time and relaxation you will have once you have conquered the list.
After you’ve accomplished your goals for the day, plan something rewarding for yourself. Put aside work, housekeeping needs, or family concerns for a short period of time before you go to sleep. Allow yourself to fully relax for a little while.