The Unschedule: An Effective Method to Beat Procrastination

The 9 – 5 work mentality society knows as the norm may not be the most productive way of accomplishing your study goals. Going from class-to-class and straight home to study more puts you at risk for burnout. Instead, what research shows is that those who take frequent breaks throughout the day are more productive, retain information better, and can help with creativity. Neil Fiore, author of The Now Habit, has come up with something that will combat procrastination that he calls the “Unschedule.” Keep reading to see why this unconventional idea works and how to create one for yourself.

Schedule activities

Ironically, the basic principle of the “Unschedule” is to schedule! When you plan out your week, fill it out with as much non-work related activities as possible. This could be dinner with friends, going to the gym, hobbies, and even sleep. Look at your calendar and try and fit in time for studying and projects. Not finding the time? Good! This is part of the learning process on how to procrastinate less. You’ll stop asking, “Where did the day go?” because you’ll see which activities you commit too much time to. Later, you can thin out these activities and feel less guilty when you decide to go for a jog or read for a while.

Fill in your “Unschedule” with work on projects after you complete one for a half-hour

Imagine each activity and project as if you were clocking into work. Once you set the timer for your current activity, you’ll be more motivated to complete as much of that task in thirty minutes. In addition to the motivation you’ll feel, this is an excellent way to track your progress on said project. Your attitude and behavior will reflect positively on your work ethic, giving you even more motivation for each task on your “Unschedule.”

Take credit for the uninterrupted work you complete in thirty minutes

There are two types of work, deep work, and shallow work. Deep work is when you complete professional activities in a distraction-free concentration in short period intervals. Deep work differs from shallow work, which is where you complete logistical-style tasks with distractions for long periods. Over time, you’ll find that you are more motivated when you set out to complete more work in a shorter period of time and thus more productive. 

Reward yourself with a break or enjoyable task

As with training a dog to sit, you give them a biscuit when they follow your command. Follow the same method and reward yourself for the work that you complete for each scheduled period. You should only take breaks after you complete a solid thirty minutes of work. You’ll begin to associate good behavior to the rewards and continue to keep up your hard work. Ways to reward yourself can be watching your favorite TV show, going on a walk, or grabbing coffee with a friend. Then it is right back to the books! Be sure to keep track of the quality of hours worked. You’ll want to do this daily and weekly. Looking at the amount of time it took you to accomplish your week will help plan future projects and is yet another motivator in the “Unschedule” process.

Save one day a week for recreation or small chores

Everyone needs a day off each week to use as a mental break. Fiore says, “To sustain high levels of motivation and lessen the urge to procrastinate in the face of life’s demands for high-level performance, we need guilt-free play to provide us with periods of physical and mental renewal.” Having a full-days break recharges the mind and prevents burnout. The last thing you want is to lose the motivation to write a grade-changing paper the week that it’s due.

Focus on starting and never end “down”

Sometimes the hardest part of a project is getting it started. “Unschedluing” sets you up for having the motivation to start any project, even if it is with your least favorite subject. Look at the near-term goal versus your overall one to help stay focused. Instead of looking at your paper as a whole, start with wanting to do the initial outline for thirty minutes. Once your allotted working period is up, leave the project as is. Rushing to tie up loose ends will not only hurt the quality of the work, but you’ll be less motivated to come back and polish it later.

No one ever said, “Taking breaks is for wimps.” The most successful CEOs and entrepreneurs are those that studied hard and took a lot of breaks—looking for more tips on how to be a productive student? Check out our Personal Productivity course, where you’ll learn quick life hacks to maximize your productivity. Click the link to find out more today and start getting projects done in less time.