As we approach the end of the semester I feel the stress levels rising all around me. You can always tell the student who has been on top of his/her studies throughout the semester from those who have not based on their level of stress and frustration!
As an educator procrastination is something I encounter in various forms and quite often. I am constantly having conversations with students regarding time management skills and the need to prioritize. I also couple this conversations with stress management skills and how to have a balanced life. Which can be counter intuitive because for some students their stress relief activities are merely ways of avoidance thus leading to poorer time management.
Additionally, while poor time management skills and procrastination plague students. These are also symptoms found amongst many educators and student affairs professionals. For some student affairs professionals procrastination can go hand-in-hand with being successful at our jobs. Often it appears in less obvious but student centered forms such as attending student events, engaging in conversations with student leaders, or even the occasional networking lunch with colleagues. Each situation seeming beneficial in fostering relationships, student development, or professional growth. However, it is the time, place, and work load of the professional that turns these activities into procrastination or avoidance tendencies.
As student affairs professionals we are often over worked and over committed. Many of us are plagued with servant personalities that come with a fruitful unwillingness to say “no”. So, while we are keen to preach time management and balance to our students, these things can often be serious struggles in our own lives. There are even weeks when our work loads begin to mirror the intensity of a student’s final exam week. At least I know I have felt this way a time or too, and I know I am not alone in that feeling!
In order for us to be effective role models to our students we, too, have to learn the art of avoiding procrastination and increasing our balance. I found a useful article which may help you learn which type of procrastinator you are and provide some strategies to overcome the nasty habit! “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” –George Eliot
The 6 Different Types Of Procrastinators – Find Your Type & We’ll Show You How To Fix It by Joel
We are all guilty of procrastination at some point in our lives. We get caught up in other activities and put some of our most important ‘to-do’s’ on the back burner only to feel crappy about not acting on it earlier when it comes around to bite us on our lazy asses.
Good thing for you we have a list of the 6 different types of procrastinators. We are all at least one type out of the 6 featured, some of us are an amalgamation of a few of these. Find which one you are, or one(s) you are and get ready to shake your world up with some extra life accomplishments.
Read more here.
Principle designer at Noelle Ivey Designs, graphic, print & social media design for @mrcbu & @buodei, and #PSPfit Admin. I am a creative being that loves to read, sometimes write, but always watch and listen! My heart cries out for peace, love, acceptance and service of others.
Tanyah Barnes 
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