Stop procrastinating! And get your doctorate now

One of the main barriers before starting doctoral or postdoctoral studies is the time it can take to receive it.

And no, we are not going to say that graduating with a doctorate or post-doctorate is easy if not everyone did it. But we can assure you that with perseverance and discipline it is a dream that can be achieved in the medium term.

If you haven't started working on this dream, or you're in the middle of it, but you feel that you’re living it aside, we tell you: stop procrastinating! And get your doctorate now.

The important thing is to be clear that delaying until the last moment is a bad habit that can be combated. How? Having a set of strategies that allow you to deal with this "postponement" of tasks and complete the work on time and without having to leave it for the last minute, also causing unnecessary stress.

Although it sounds like a straightforward strategy, these 3 steps will help you put procrastination at bay and achieve all the goals you set for yourself.

1.- Divide the tasks into micro projects.

The brain enjoys working on projects. So an excellent strategy is to establish small wins. This mental game allows you to shorten the process, and have that feeling that the proposed objectives are being achieved.

Doesn't it happen to you that when you make lists and cross off the ones you have already achieved, you are motivated to finish faster? That kind of effect makes us feel that little reward that the brain likes and makes it go for more, keeping your spirits high and your interest in the project alive.

2.- Create your own system.

Setting priorities and starting with the most important is essential. If we don't use a system to identify these priority tasks, we risk wasting the most productive time of the day on tasks that are not truly relevant.

Keep in mind that the work that really adds value is completed 20% of the time, so identify your periods of high productivity and assign the most difficult or time-consuming tasks to complete in those blocks.

Recognizing the obstacles is essential to recognize to address the situation of what makes you delay the tasks: Fear of failure? You don't like what you do? Are you bored? A little introspection will help you understand their behavior and how to counter it.

3.- Set deadlines.

Setting a deadline for your homework will help you reach your goal. Try to make this date a few days before the actual delivery date, so you have leeway in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Using these simple strategies, you will be able to carry out the project you propose, no matter how big it is. Remember that the important thing is always to advance at a sustained pace, but sustainable by you.

We leave you some reasons why students tend to procrastinate more, in case any resonates with you, and you can start working on it now:

● Assessment anxiety
● poor time management
● perfectionism
● Laziness
● Subject/homework rejection

Do you feel identified with any? Start working on yourself and on your dreams.