Is all this sunny weather leaving you with no motivation? With the beginning of week six, midterm projects and papers are starting to seem endless. But with these five tips, you may be able to finish that lengthy project sooner than you thought.
1. Stop thinking and start doing
Thinking and planning are not bad things, especially when it comes to finishing a big project. However, too much thinking and planning may have the opposite effect. Don’t leave yourself planning up until the day before something is due.
“I usually make an outline, so that I have something written down on paper,” University undergraduate Shay Brown said.
2. Take baby steps
Split the project into sections by doing research one day and an outline the other. Split up different parts of the project so you’re not leaving the entire thing to one day.
University undergraduate Sarah Stocker@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Sarah+Stocker@@ said that this was the main reason she finished her forest biology project.
“I started by doing research one day,” she said. “By the time I was done doing research, I pretty much knew mostly everything and just started writing the paper in increments.”
3. Install website-blocker extensions onto your computer to block any distractions you may have when working on your computer
This extension allows you to choose the settings wisely and block websites such as Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. It also allows you to choose the number of hours that you block the websites so that you can attempt to have a solid two hours of work.
4. Reward yourself
After finishing a lengthy part of the assignment, reward yourself with ice cream, some time at the gym@@what?!@@ or even an hour with friends. Do something you enjoy, whatever it is.
University undergraduate Chantelle Savoie@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Savoie@@ said after finishing two pages of her exercise physiology research lap report, she rewarded herself with a two-hour gym visit and some Prince Puckler’s coconut ice cream.@@http://princepucklers.com/@@
“I went home after Prince Puckler’s and actually finished the whole written part of the lab,” she said. “Taking time away from working on the project actually helped me focus more.”
5. Be courageous — finish it
There comes a certain point where baby steps and rewards have worn themselves out. If you have one page left or one more slide to a PowerPoint, whatever the last of your project may be, do it. Get it done. You’ve worked too hard to leave anything to the last minute.
Just imagine yourself typing that last period, submitting the final piece and setting up a lawn chair under that blazing sun without a care in the world.