How to stop procrastinating now and finish that journal article

Are you having trouble getting finishing that journal article? Do you find yourself procrastinating? Spending all day at your computer but not making good progress? You're not alone! All academics and researchers struggle with this at least sometimes. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips that will help you overcome procrastination and finally finish your article.

The one action you can take NOW to beat procrastination

Sometimes all the conditions are absolutely perfect for working on your journal article, research paper, or book chapter. You have all day free to sit down at your computer, you have a hot coffee at your desk, your inbox is empty, you have no immediate deadlines and nothing else to work on, and you're not hungry or bored. 

Just kidding! When is it ever like that? Never. So you have to make do with the conditions you have.

The only way to stop procrastinating is to actually take action. Sure, of course. That’s not helpful you are thinking…but there’s one main trick that I think will help you.

Take a teeny tiny action. 

Write one sentence.

Set a timer and work for 2 minutes.

Plot one variable.

Write one figure caption.

Edit one table. 

Etc…

Tell yourself you will do that one thing and then you can go back to Twitter, or go get those chips, or reply to that email.

The magic is that sometimes once you get started you don’t want to stop and all of a sudden you’ve actually been productive. Inertia helps A LOT. 

Sometimes you really struggle to get that one sentence out and as soon as it’s done you get up to do something else. But, oh well. You wrote one sentence. That’s still a win. That’s one less sentence of your research paper that you have to write later.

Other strategies for overcoming procrastination

Taking a teeny tiny action is for me the number 1 strategy, but there are other actions to take that will help you finish the journal article faster.

This sounds counter productive, but TAKE BREAKS

Remember to also take breaks between tasks to give yourself time to relax and recharge. Even when you are in the flow and NOT procrastinating, it’s important to give your brain moments to rest.

Taking breaks can help you avoid working on little tasks that don't actually help you finish in the end. Have you ever lost several hours "fixing" something in your journal article that actually you didn't need to fix? Taking breaks can help you avoid this because it gives you a little rest. And this can actually boost productivity and lead to finishing your journal article faster.

Celebrate the small wins

The process of writing and publishing a journal article can be long and arduous, but it's so important to celebrate your accomplishments along the way!

Whenever you complete a task, no matter how small, take a moment to reward yourself with something fun.

Maybe you'll treat yourself to a snack or go for a walk. Or maybe you'll shoot off a quick message to your best friend. Whatever you do, take the time to enjoy your success. The journey to publication can be tough, but it's so worth it in the end.

So keep up the good work, and don't forget to celebrate your milestones along the way!

Remove distractions from your environment

If you're working on a journal article or other academic writing, it's important to remove distractions from your environment so you can focus on the task at hand.

That means turning off the TV, silencing your phone, and closing down any internet tabs that aren't related to your research. Not only will this help you stay focused, but it will also help you work more efficiently.

Every time you're interrupted by a notification or a new email, it takes time to get back into the flow of your writing. By eliminating distractions, you can make the most of your time and get your work done more quickly.

Ask for help

If you're really feeling overwhelmed or stuck and these tips aren't working, don't be afraid to ask for help.

Your supervisor, peers, classmates, or social media networks can all be great sources of support and advice.

If you're having trouble making progress on your journal article or academic paper, try reaching out to someone in your field who has published before. They may be able to give you some tips on how to get back on track.

The most effective way to ask for help is to be specific. This is especially true for time-poor supervisors who want to help, but may not have the time to write out a long email or have a long conversation. Some examples of how to ask for specific help are:

• "I'm stuck on this section about XX, do you know a good paper that reviews this?"
• "I'm not sure how best to present my data about XX. Do you have an example table or figure that presents a similar kind of data?"
• "I'm struggling to really understand the XX concept/argument/hypothesis? Would you share your thoughts about that with me?"

Remember, you're not alone in this – there are people who want to help you succeed. So don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Find what works for you

There are a number of things you can do to stop procrastination. For me the best trick is taking a teeny tiny action. For example, this blog post started when I decided to just write out the list of examples of teeny tiny actions that help make progress on a journal article. And look, now it's a whole blog post!

However, the best strategy may be different for each person. What works for one person may not work for another. The most important thing is to find what works for you and then stick to it. Academic writing can be challenging! And procrastination is a habit that can be difficult to break, but it is definitely possible.

Now go take a teeny tiny action on that paper ;)

Happy writing!