Procrastinating on Your Studies? Do This One Thing to Stop!

Kimann1, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

Becoming a nurse means signing up for lifelong learning whether you like it or not. If you are in nursing school for the first time, work mandated to finish a BSN degree, or pursuing an advanced practice degree, being in school is challenging and a sacrifice. After all, you are busy and may have a demanding job and possibly family obligations. Most people are stressed, and all this pressure can lead to a cycle of procrastination and distraction, which can lead to devastating consequences on your self-esteem, mental health, and even physical health.

Procrastination Cycle

I am very familiar with this procrastination cycle. When attending an online, self-paced university in an RN to MSN program, I remember waking up daily in a crushing panic. I was always thinking about what was due with my classes, and I constantly felt behind and needed to improve. Consequently, all that negative thinking made me feel anxious, stressed, and depressed, and I procrastinated! Instead of working on a paper, I would distract myself with YouTube videos or household chores. I was also very ashamed of procrastinating and hid it from others. This behavior led to self-doubt, shame, embarrassment, and self-criticism. I thought everyone else was able to go through school effortlessly. Why was I having such an issue? What is wrong with me? This led me to dive deeply into why I procrastinated, and when I stopped this one damaging habit, I could get through school, finish my degree and improve my life. That one habit was to stop beating myself up about my procrastination!

It's Not Your Fault

Mel Robbins, author and motivational speaker, said, "Procrastination is not a form of laziness at all. It's a coping mechanism for stress." This statement was an eye-opener for me! It made me realize that procrastination was not my fault. It led me to stop being so hard on myself. I was not lazy or bad because I was putting things off. I was trying to relieve stress, which works in the short term but produces more pressure. I also discovered that I was a perfectionist, and when I couldn't be perfect, which is impossible, it would cause anxiety, and I would avoid doing my schoolwork. Perfectionism is a habit I picked up in childhood, but I am an adult, and it was damaging my progress toward my goals. Knowing this led me to notice when my perfectionism led me to procrastinate and use ways to combat it, like positive self-talk and self-forgiveness.

Stop the Vicious Cycle

If you are procrastinating, realize you are stressed, and give yourself some compassion. Talk to yourself like you would to a good friend or child who is stressed and overwhelmed. After all, you are the closest person to you, and constantly talking negatively to yourself leads you to believe that you are not good enough. Let me tell you that you are good enough and always have been and always will be. No one is perfect, but you can still accomplish your goals. Talking harshly to yourself creates more stress, and being stressed leads to more procrastination! It's a vicious cycle. You are a human being just trying to do the best you can. Forgive yourself and try again.

What's more, the idea of self-forgiveness and self-compassion to stop procrastination is supported by science. A Canadian University study showed that when students forgave themselves for doing poorly on a test at the beginning of the semester, they were more likely to improve on the final exam at the end of the semester. It was the opposite for the students who didn't practice self-forgiveness with themselves. Another study showed that the procrastinating participants showed lower levels of self-compassion and higher stress levels, suggesting that interventions to promote self-compassion can help procrastination and stress. Another study showed that self-compassion was associated with accomplishing goals, less fear of failure, and greater student confidence.

Eventually, I persisted and finished my MSN degree. The lessons I learned about self-compassion, self-forgiveness, and being kind to myself helped me in every aspect of my life. You can accomplish your degree or whatever your goals are! Talk positively to yourself and forgive yourself for slip-ups and try again. Procrastination is not your fault. You can do this!

References

Self-compassion, Achievement Goals, and Coping with Academic Failure, Self and Identity: Taylor & Francis Online

Procrastination and Stress: Exploring the Role of Self-compassion, Self and Identity: Taylor & Francis Online

I forgive myself, now I can study: How self-forgiveness for procrastinating can reduce future procrastination: ScienceDirect®

Procrastinating on Your Studies? Do This One Thing to Stop!

Procrastination Cycle

It's Not Your Fault

Stop the Vicious Cycle

About Kimann1, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

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