Dear Sun Star: Psych-ing It Out

Dear Sun Star,
I’m a freshman here, brand new this semester and I’m majoring in psychology. I’m having trouble with putting my work off until the last minute.
Any suggestions?

Signed,
Psych-ing It Out.

Dear Psych-ing It Out,  

We hear you, and we feel your pain. 
A handful of our team are known procrastinators and we daydream of a day that we’re not chugging energy drinks while trying to beat a deadline. So, believe us when we say: you’re not alone.

Here are a few tips from our newsroom. We hope they help you more than they help some of us. (Looking at you, Amber). 

First, use a calendar. Whether it’s a physical planner or the calendar on your phone, writing down your deadlines can make that mountain of assignments feel a little more manageable. Try breaking big assignments into smaller tasks and giving yourself mini-deadlines along the way. 

Set alarms. If you know you’re going to forget, don’t leave it up to your future self. Set one alarm an hour before you plan to start and another 30 minutes before. Your future self may still be annoyed, but at least they’ll be annoyed with a plan. 

Find a support system. Tell a friend what you need to get done and ask them to check in on you. Sometimes knowing someone else is going to ask, “Did you actually do it?” is enough motivation to get started. 

Change your scenery. Try studying at a coffee shop, outside or somewhere else on campus. And if your phone is your biggest distraction, leave it behind for a little while. Your TikTok feed will survive without you. 

Finally, give yourself some grace. Procrastination isn’t always about being lazy or not caring. Sometimes it can be tied to stress, overwhelm or difficulty managing uncomfortable emotions. Beating yourself up for procrastinating usually just makes it harder to start. 

You’re adjusting to college; you’re figuring out what works for you. 

And if all else fails? Maybe don’t wait until 11:47 p.m. to start that paper. 

Good luck, Psych-ing It Out! We’re rooting for you. 
— The Sun Star
Professional procrastinators, occasional deadline beaters. 

Got questions? We’ve got advice.
Whether you’re drowning in midterms, navigating roommate drama, or trying to figure out how to function on three hours of sleep and a cold brew, The Sun Star advice desk is officially open.

Our newsroom is made up of students just like you, ranging from wide-eyed freshmen to seasoned non-traditional students, representing different corners of the globe, backgrounds, and life stages. Between us, we’ve almost made every mistake, survived every awkward situation, and learned a few things along the way. No issue is too big, too small, or too weird.

Submit your questions to uaf-sunstar@alaska.edu and let the team help you figure it out.