I’m in the process of trying to finish my very first essay for uni. Although it’s been 7 long years since I wrote an essay, turns out, I haven’t lost one of my skills from university days: the art of procrastinating. I used to be really good at that. And turns out, now I’m even better. In my attempt to complete my 1200 word close-reading essay on a page from a book of my choice, I am happy to announce:

Sanch’s Guide on how to procrastinate effectively:

1. Blog: Make sure all the brilliant blog ideas strike when you are just about to make that critical argument in your essay. How-to posts are great as are all the link-ups you need to write for. And if you ever have writer’s block, turns out it will disappear the minute you have to focus on something as riveting as an essay. And while we are at blogging, reading other blogs is a brilliant way of procrastinating. After all, you probably haven’t had time to read them in the past week and this is the perfect time to read and comment on them!

2. Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: When I was at uni 7 years ago, Facebook was the only procrastination tool I had to distract me from my thesis. Now with the mass social media revolution, I have way more options. So if Facebook gets boring, I can procrastinate using 140 characters or just viewing photos. Every few seconds. Not that my instagram feed gets updated that quickly. But you never know!

3. Speak on the phone: Just this evening I had two one-hour long conversations. In the three hours I’d allocated myself to complete my essay. Yep. Genius. Make sure you reconnect with friends from long-ago or even just touch base with that close friend to talk about any problems they may be having. Not only does it distract you from your big problem {The ESSAY!}, you feel good at being able to help out a friend. Perks, much? And of course, make time to speak to that special person in your life. Time well spent, I say.

4. Whatsapp: This is the time to remember to whatsapp your sister, your friends who are overseas, your long lost cousins. Whoever.

5. Do the dishes: I hate doing the dishes. But somehow, when there’s an essay due, I’d rather wash the damn dishes. Amazing how clean my kitchen is at this point!

6. Eat: Now I’m generally hungry every couple of hours but when I’m attempting to complete an assignment, it’s like my body and brain needs extra fuel. To the point where I’ll go to the kitchen every 15 to 20 minutes to see if something mysteriously pops up in my bare pantry and fridge. Keeps me off-task. Just as the procrastination gurus intended.

7. Make me a cuppa: If I’m working on my essay during the day, it’s usually coffee I lean towards. In the evening, post-work, it’s herbal teas. And lots and lots of it. And you know what happens when you drink too much fluid, don’t you? Yep, bathroom breaks! That’s two for the price of one! 🙂

8. Think and plan for other assignments: Apparently, if you want to procrastinate but still feel productive, start thinking about other assignments. The end result tends to be you don’t do anything well but you feel like you have done something. Barely.

9. Skype your parents: Even though I talk to my parents probably just once or twice a month, it seems to become essential to skype them the night I have uni work to do. Family is important. Except when you are out hiking or socialising or working or at home writing and blogging.

10. Reorganise and reorder: Now I haven’t actually done this one. Yet. But my previous housemate Z was the queen of this. I’d come home some days from work to find that she had reorganised the kitchen and laundry. Or that she had cleaned the garage {which I’d been intending on doing since I moved in 5 years ago} and reorganised everything in it. Let’s see if my uni work pushes me that far! I have been known to clean the house and my room in the past. So I wouldn’t put it past me…

So that’s it for my tips on how to procrastinate effectively.

Have you got any other ideas? What things do you do to procrastinate?

Do share!

And if you feel the urge to procrastinate, you can always subscribe to my blog, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Just saying! 😀

***Linking with Jess for IBOT and Emily and Vanessa for Laugh Linkup***

Until next time,

Cheers!!!