Attention Procrastinators – Here’s what I learned in college

Back in college, I was a MASTER procrastinator. Once, I sat at a diner with friends drinking coffee and eating greasy fries until 11 PM, when I finally decided I needed to go home and start on the term paper that was due the next morning at 7 AM. Needless to say, it was a painful all-nighter.

It’s been said that people are willing to do more to avoid painful consequences than they are to achieve pleasurable results. But, this wasn’t true for me, especially with homework.

I made decent grades, but it was pulling teeth to get myself to study. I hated the stress and the pain of staying up, yet I still procrastinated. I feared bad marks, but the fear wasn’t motivating – it was paralyzing.

We all have some projects and tasks that feel impossible and are harder to get done than others. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or paralyzed by an impossible project, try the Small Carrot Motivation.

Small Carrot Motivation

In the end, what helped me get through all the homework in college was Friends. Not my actual friends (they were procrastination accomplices), but the TV show (it was the 90s). I wanted nothing more than to forget about my mountain of homework and zone out on the show.

I decided to use the show as a carrot. One page of writing meant I would get to watch one show. Read one chapter and I would get to watch another show.

It worked like magic. I got through the tedious homework knowing I would get to do something enjoyable. And, even though the shows added another 20 minutes each, I still managed to get my work done faster.

I still use the Small Carrot Motivation to get through tough work. My carrots are different now as I’m motivated by different things, but the key is to find something you really want and enjoy.

Find Your Carrot Motivation

• Small, immediate rewards: read, watch a show, take a shower, eat, work on a fun project, go for a walk, call a friend, go for coffee
• Medium, mid-term rewards: take an afternoon off, book a massage, go out to a fancy dinner
• Large, long-term rewards: Take a vacation or staycation, enroll in a course, throw a party

The Small Carrot Motivation is what helps me get through the tough tasks to achieve my goals. I start by breaking down projects to bite-size chunks (about 60-90 minutes of work for me) which makes it feel more doable.

Then, I dangle a small carrot that I’ll get when I complete the task. For example:

• After getting my workout done, I’ll shower and eat breakfast while listening to my book. (This may not sound like much, but I love showers, eating, and listening to books.)
• After getting my bookkeeping and budgeting done, I may treat myself to a coffee break at the cafe next door, or watch a TED talk.

The trick is to focus on the task and reward at hand. Once you know what the task is, let go of the bigger picture for the time being. The only thing that matters is getting the task done and getting your carrot. Keep your eye on that small prize.

Then, simply repeat, repeat, repeat – ad before you know it, your impossible project is complete.