In the stages of grief and loss bargaining is number three on the list. You’re trying to make sense of a tragedy by making a deal to regain some sense of normalcy. The connection to class here is that you will be the one missing out if you continue to procrastinate and push off your work. Your instructor assigns you specific materials to study and absorb for a reason; better understanding of the subject matter for example. So, instead of bargaining to not do an assignment so you can go out on a Friday night, shift your focus and make your education a higher priority.
You can defer loans, but not your classwork. If something is due Sunday night, and you have all week to do it, the procrastinator in you is giving you options to avoid it. Next thing you know it’s Sunday afternoon and you have no idea what you’re doing. Making a deal with yourself to get the work done, while still keeping your social life, can have a negative impact.
[see also: How to Be a Better Manager in Your School Life]
Pros of Bargaining
- Sometimes a break is good to clear your head.
- You can be more productive if you take that nap, or walk before you start on your work.
- A night out, or afternoon away from reading, can re-energize and inspire ideas for class.
Cons of Bargaining
- You don’t keep up your end of the deal and the work never gets done.
- Your reasons for not doing work outweigh the benefits of completing the assignment.
- Your grades are dropping because of the procrastination.
View each assignment as an opportunity to receive the maximum allotment of points. Read the assignment for that week of class on Monday. If it’s something easy for you to respond to, do it then. When it is a question that is more involved where you have to do research then set up a game plan for the week. Try for researching and note-taking mid-week, and then sit down to write by Friday or Saturday morning. Don’t let time get away from you. Just like you know how to schedule your busy life, you’ll find the best way to manage your school calendar; without bargaining to get out of it.
By J. Mason
Online Learning Tips Editor
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