I’ve moaned about it enough, so you’ll all know by know that despite having graduated last summer I’m still studying. I’ve chosen a career path which pretty much needs a professional qualification, so for the foreseeable future I’ll be entering an exam hall every six months.
“Organise” Your Notes
I doubt it’s only me that simply can’t revise without neat notes, organised folders and a fully-stocked stationery drawer?! This year I spent far longer than necessary printing labels for my notes and making sure they were perfectly lined up when sticking them on…
Clean
NGL, my flat is never cleaner when I’m approaching exams. The phrase ‘tidy home, tidy mind’ springs to mind, though in reality I’m not quite sure that scrubbing at an already sparkling oven is an excuse to put off revision!
Batch-Cook
This is generally something I do right when I realize I need to knuckle down and do some work. Having a freezer full of easy to reheat meals makes me feel so much calmer going into the exam period, as I don’t need to think about having healthy dinners to cook. My tomato-free bolognese is perfect for this, but I also love freezing stews and casseroles. Anything I can just reheat and throw together with veggies or a salad!
Walk The Dog
Yep, the dog I don’t even have! When I still lived at home, even when I went home during university Easter holidays, I found walking the dog one of the best ways to procrastinate. It got me out of the house and away from my desk, blew away the cobwebs and generally just cleared my mind. If only I could find a dog to walk now!
Pamper Session
Sometimes you’ve just got to improve your mood. I hit a rock-solid brick wall about five days before my exam, right before the Easter Bank Holiday gave me 4 solid days of revision. After a few tears and choice words I took an hour or two off. I filed my nails down, shaved my legs and did a triple mask facial. Midway through one of the face masks I had a bit of a ‘eureka’ moment – and cracked the discounted dividend model for valuing equity investments!
The ‘Motivating’ Spotify Playlist
This is double the procrastination for me, as I don’t generally listen to music. However it’s definitely something I’ve spent far too long doing – in fact I’m pretty sure I’ve spent longer perfecting the playlist than I have actually listening to it. I either go for silence (or as close as it gets living under the Heathrow flightpath!) or pop Heart FM.
Bake
I’ve already mentioned that baking bread is my number-one procrastination method, although I remain firm in my stance that this is mainly because it goes a good way to reliving my writing-induced RSI. That said, I also love to snack on e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g whilst studying, so baking means I generally keep things a little healthier. Homemade hobnobs have *got* to be better than shop-bought ones right?!
What do you do to ‘procrastinate productively’?
